Can you tell me over the phone what is wrong?

We can often narrow it down from a good description of the symptoms, which helps us plan. Confirming the cause needs the vehicle tested.

Is it worth jump starting it?

If the battery is genuinely flat, yes — but repeated jump starts usually mean the battery or charging system needs attention.

Can you recover the car and diagnose it?

Yes. Recovery straight to our workshop means the vehicle goes from breakdown to diagnosis to repair without a second call-out.

Diagnostics

Car Won't Start?

A car that will not start is not one fault — it is a shortlist. Working through that list in order is how you avoid buying parts you did not need.

Car won't start?

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Nothing happens at all

Flat or failed battery, or corroded battery terminals
Poor earth connection or a blown main fuse
Failed ignition switch or starter relay
Immobiliser or key recognition fault
Faulty starter motor or solenoid

It cranks but will not fire

Fuel supply problem — pump, filter, relay or pressure
Ignition fault on petrol engines: coils, plugs or crank sensor
Glow plug or preheat fault on diesels in cold weather
Crankshaft or camshaft sensor failure
Timing belt or chain failure, or jumped timing
Low compression or mechanical engine damage

It starts then cuts out

Immobiliser not releasing
Fuel pressure dropping under load
Air leak or sensor drift
Charging fault leaving insufficient voltage
Blocked DPF or exhaust restriction on diesels

Battery, starter or alternator?

A battery that will jump start but goes flat again points to charging or drain. A single loud click with lights staying bright points towards the starter. A dashboard battery light while driving points to the alternator. Voltage and current testing confirms which — guessing is what leads to two parts being bought instead of one.

Recovery to the workshop

If the vehicle cannot be started where it stands, our recovery service can bring it to our Iver workshop so it can be diagnosed and repaired properly rather than roadside-patched. Call 07440 140340 to check current recovery availability.

Frequently asked questions

Car won't start?

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Our work

Recent jobs from our workshop

Photographs taken during work carried out at our Iver workshop.

Carbon-choked inlet port found during diagnosis
Vehicle up on the ramp in our Iver workshop
Soot in the inlet ports after high-mileage diesel use

Advice

Helpful reading on this fault

Car won't start: a five-minute checklistThe noise the car makes tells you a lot. Here is how to describe it — and what it usually means.Read more Clicking noise when you turn the keyOne click and rapid clicking point at different parts. The noise is the most useful clue you have.Read more

Symptoms

Symptoms that often lead to this repair

Look up what your car is doing and read what it commonly means.

Car won't start and just clicksClicking means the electrical side is trying to work but the engine is not turning over properly. The pattern of the clicking is the most useful clue.Read more Car cutting out while drivingIntermittent cut-outs are among the most important faults to record properly, because the evidence disappears the moment the engine restarts.Read more Car hard to start when coldCold starting depends on battery condition, fuel pressure, compression and, on diesels, glow plug operation. Cold weather exposes weakness in any of them.Read more Flat battery: why it keeps going flatBatteries do wear out, but a battery that flattens repeatedly usually has help — either it is not being charged properly or something is draining it while the car is parked.Read more Signs your car battery needs replacingMost batteries give warning before they leave you stranded. Recognising it early usually means choosing when the car is off the road rather than being told.Read more Car won't start but the battery is fineWhen the battery tests healthy, the fault is usually in the starting circuit, the fuel side or the sensors the engine needs to run.Read more

You may also need

Car Battery ReplacementModern batteries are not just a box of power. On many vehicles a new battery has to be the right type and registered to the car.Read more Starter Motor ReplacementStarter faults are often blamed on the battery and vice versa. Testing tells them apart in minutes.Read more Alternator ReplacementThe alternator keeps the battery charged and the electronics fed. When it fades, the car will usually run until the battery runs out — and then stop.Read more Car Diagnostics & Fault Finding in IverA warning light tells you something has been detected — not what has failed. We diagnose the vehicle first so the repair that follows is the repair the car actually needs.Read more Vehicle RecoveryBroken down, non-runner, or a car that needs moving? We tow and recover cars and light commercials across West London, Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire — and bring them straight to our own garage for repair.Read more Engine DiagnosticsEngine faults are usually a chain of events rather than a single broken part. We test fuelling, ignition, air, compression and control signals to find where the chain breaks.Read more

Talk to us about car won't start?

Based in Iver, covering West London, Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire. Send your registration and we will quote for your vehicle.

Call 07440 140340 WhatsApp us