Car Won’t Start? Flat Battery or Something Else

You turn the key or press the start button and… nothing. Before you assume the worst, it’s worth working out whether the problem is the battery, because if it is, a jump start usually gets you going.

Signs it’s probably the battery

• A rapid clicking sound when you try to start
• Dashboard lights are dim, flicker or don’t come on at all
• Central locking is slow or doesn’t work
• The car has been sitting unused for a week or more
• Lights or an accessory were left on
• It’s a cold morning and the battery is a few years old

Signs it might be something else

• Lights and electrics work normally but the engine won’t turn over, could be the starter motor
• The engine turns over strongly but won’t fire, could be fuel or ignition
• The car starts after a jump but dies again soon after, could be the alternator
• Warning lights stay on after starting

What to do while you wait

Turn off the lights, heater and any accessories, and don’t keep trying to start the car, repeated cranking drains what’s left of the battery and can overheat the starter motor.

After a jump start

Keep the engine running for a while, or take a decent drive, so the battery can recharge. Then get the battery and charging system checked at a garage, especially if it’s more than a few years old.

If the car won’t start even with a jump, we can recover it to your home or garage on the same visit. More about our jump start service and jump starts in High Wycombe.