Won't start

[Gilles27]

Hello. Car has been stood for a couple of weeks. When I tried to start it today it makes a fast ticking noise and the airbag light flickers. Nothing else happens and the car doesn't turn over. Any ideas?

Thanks

[Topdownman]

Battery needs charging?

[Gilles27]

Battery needs charging?

I'll give that a go, but I would have expected nothing at all to happen if it was a battery problem.

Thanks

[Mikeymead]

Battery needs charging?

I'll give that a go, but I would have expected nothing at all to happen if it was a battery problem.

Thanks

It doesn't work like that, there are different degrees of flat battery. Lead acid batteries loose their charge gradually unlike say Lithium Iron which seems to be all or nothing.

[Call the midlife!]

The battery on mine had been fully discharged that many times it only held charge for a day or two with the alarm draining it. I got the machine gun clicks and then nothing.
Shiny, new battery and cut off switch now!


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[Smcknighty]

Yeah the clicks are it powering a relay, that surge down the relay kills what's left, relay opens, usage drops, relay closes again. Same again and again


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[Call the midlife!]

Yeah, what he said...


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[Gilles27]

Wow! Thanks for all the replies! Sounds like you all agree as well, which is unusual for a forum!

I'll get the battery on charge tonight.

[Call the midlife!]

Wow! Thanks for all the replies! Sounds like you all agree as well, which is unusual for a forum!

I'll get the battery on charge tonight.

Fingers crossed for you there, they'll only stand a few full discharges before the cells give in. Mine was showing a full charge after being on the charger but some of the cells were shot so it only survived a couple of starts and being stood overnight, then click, click again!


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[Gilles27]

Hmmmm.  I took the battery off to charge it and the charger showed that it was fully charged. Put it back in the car and it still won't start. The clicking is quieter. Have I killed the battery?
Is it worth trying jump leads to at least get the car moving?

[wotugonado]

If you can take battery to halfords and they will do a free test which will confirm condition

[The Other Stu]

Before I replaced my battery, mine would often do that. Even with the bump battery.

I tended to find disconnect it all for a minute or so and retry with the bump battery.

[2 of the left]

Any corrosion on the terminals?

[Mikeymead]

Out of interest did you check the voltage of the battery with a multi meter? a low voltage say 10-11v could indicate a dead cell.

[Gilles27]

Out of interest did you check the voltage of the battery with a multi meter? a low voltage say 10-11v could indicate a dead cell.

No I didn't. I don't have a multi meter. I'm not very mechanically minded - and electronics are a total mystery to me!