Starting issues

1. beaniehat L-plater Joined: Jun 2010 Birmingham Posts: 73 2001 Posi Furio

   #1 1st January 2011, 23:07

   Had a few issues that have put me off the road and, being illiterate when it comes to cars, am stuck.
   
   Basically the car just cut out on the way to work a few weeks ago. I don't think looking back there was enough water in it, or ANY anti-freeze in whatever water was in there anyway. I should have topped it up but I was late for work and it was minus ten outside at the time. Any, heater blew cold air all the way to work and it cut out just close enough to see work but just far enough away for me to have to pay someone with a recovery truck to pick it up.
   
   It wouldnt jump start at the scene, not a dickie bow, but pushing it down the hill towards the recovery truck bump started it. Its had a different battery on it since, to no avail, and its had a jump start attempted again without success either. My old man reckons it may be something to do with the leads from the battery but i'm not so sure.
   
   Any ideas guys? The help would be really appreciated!
2. Railroader Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Bolton Posts: 1068 Saxo 1.4i sx

   #2 1st January 2011, 23:16

   you will have to give us more information. Is it 'turning over' on the new battery? When it cut out on the way to work was it sudden like turning off a switch? Was the battery flat then?
3. beaniehat L-plater Joined: Jun 2010 Birmingham Posts: 73 2001 Posi Furio

   #3 1st January 2011, 23:27

   It was fine all the way to work and just cut out as I was coasting down a hill to some lights. Literally like someone had flicked a switch off. Took me a few seconds to work out what had happened tbh it was smooth lol. Turned over, barely, on the new battery, but only a couple of times and then wouldnt have it any more. Any other info o would need that would help?
4. Railroader Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Bolton Posts: 1068 Saxo 1.4i sx

   #4 2nd January 2011, 02:01

   When it cut out was your battery flat then?
   
   Sounds like your dad mite be right, battery leads, you did tighten them up properly didnt you? Or earthing strap, or its not charging [alternator]
5. user_31412 Established Member Joined: Feb 2009 ★ West / North Yorkshire ★ Posts: 1653

   #5 2nd January 2011, 03:40

   It sounds very suspiciously similar to the car im on with at the moment
   
   "heater blew cold air all the way to work" ... would mean water is not making its way through the heater matrix, and almost certainly not through the block to keep the engine nice and cool.
   
   Your water pump will probably look like this;
   
   
   
   ........ when it should look like this;
   
   
   
   As you can see the pump fins have been sheared off. When you turn the car over with frozen water in the block it will either not turn over, break the timing belt or break the water pump.
   
   I hope it is something as simple as a knackered battery - but if you get no where then you might have to go down the lines of stripping the engine and pressure testing the head.
   
   That 20 quid bottle of anti-freeze might not seem as expensive next winter
   
   Good luck.
6. beaniehat L-plater Joined: Jun 2010 Birmingham Posts: 73 2001 Posi Furio

   #6 2nd January 2011, 14:33

   Well I will check all the battery stuff nonetheless. Got the battery on charge now to give it the best chance it can, don't see it being the alternator myself but if it is just the leads then it's a winner. The car only cost me £400 so I don't think it's going to be worth stripping the engine. Cheers for the advice lads. (Y)