Car won't start !!

[Driver]

Car is dead, was able to jump from another car and the alarm went off but would not start, disconnected the jump leads and the alarm stopped. took out the fuse for the alarm and tried again it was completely dead??? Was running fine before xmas and nothing was left on in the car ?? Any Ideas?

[Kev_UK]

Very cold weather can flatten a battery, especially if it was on it's way out. Have you got any spark? If you have a sparkplug, take off one of the leads, put in the sparkplug and turn the car over and see if theres a spark. Basicaly you need FUEL, IGNITION (spark) and AIR to make a car start. If the timing is way out the 3 things do not happen at the same time so its a no-go. Check the leads, they may be loose, or be damp.. spray some wd40 on them, and on the distibutor and coil to expell moisture. Check the air filter is not soaking wet and clogged up. Is fuel getting through.. any smell of unburnt fuel from the exhaust?

[Driver]

Thanks for the response Kev_uk. The problem is its completely dead so I can't even get a spark, it doesn't even turn over, not even a click when I try! When the jump leads are connected still nothing happens?

[Ewood27]

Before you spend money, check the cable/strap from the battery to a point on the bodywork - the earth connection.  If that connection's badly corroded it messes up all the electrics.  If that's the problem, clean both the connector on the end of the cable and the bit it bolts to, apply Vaseline and reconnect.  With luck you will be back in business.  Otherwise it may mean a new battery.

 

A cold battery doesn't give its best, but it needs to do its very best to turn and start a winter cold engine and its thick cold oil.  A battery that's served well all summer and autumn may simply not be able to cope any more.  But give it a chance with the earth connection.

[Ralph]

The fact that you had to disconnect the alarm to shut it up smells of immobilizer things to me. This would prevent the car from starting. You may not be able to disconnect the immobilizer to prevent thieves doing the same thing and running away with your car. A lot of immobilizers cut off the electrics rather than the fuel because starving a diesel engine of juice isn't a good idea. That's where I'd start.

[harrylover]

battery? petrol? same happened to mine but was fine after a jump start.