Listen to what it does
- Nothing at all, no lights — battery, terminals or main earth
- Lights dim and a slow crank — battery or charging
- A single loud click, no crank — starter motor or solenoid
- Cranks strongly but will not fire — fuel, ignition or immobiliser
- Cranks and fires briefly then dies — fuel supply or sensor fault
- Cranks with an odd, fast, uneven noise — possible timing failure; stop trying
Quick checks that are safe to do
- Try the spare key in case of an immobiliser or key battery fault
- Check the gear selector is fully in park or neutral
- Look for loose or corroded battery terminals
- Check dashboard warning lights come on with the ignition
When to stop and call us
If the engine makes an unusual noise while cranking, or the car has recently overheated, stop. Repeated attempts can turn a repair into an engine replacement. Call 07440 140340 and we can recover it.