Car won't start

[Bigfellah]

Volvo 850 GLT saloon. New Battery. Tuesday car working fine. Came to start car Friday evening - completely dead.

Tried starting with booster - nothing at all - engine not even turning. I am advised could be alternator but no warning lights showed up to Tuesday evening. Maybe starter motor?

Any clues as to what the problem might be and how to solve?

Many thanks.

[society]

Starter gone bad?

[Bigfellah]

Not sure on that yet. Waiting to see if some other suggestions are made.

[Buenchico]

It sounds like a jammed started motor to me. Whacking it with a hefty hammer will often provide a temporary solution until it can be replaced.

Chris

[Bigfellah]

Chris thanks for that. Will have a bash!! (Excuse pun!)

[Hopkirk]

When you say totally dead, do you mean the car or the battery?

[Bigfellah]

Hopkirk I mean I put the key in ignition and turned it and nothing happened - silence, dead!

[Hopkirk]

But do you get lights on the dashboard, and do your headlights work?

I thought for a while that you meant the new battery was totally drained.

[Andyvon]

Is it turning over or is the car dead again Bigfellah? If the new battery has gone flat then you have a serious earth which is draining current. The culprit is often electric windows or the electronic alarm/immobiliser. You can check by switching off the ignition and then locating the relevant fuses. Put a multimeter across the fuse to see which circuit is draining current. Alternatively, take out each fuse overnight and see what difference that makes.
Sometimes, the battery can drain due to a boot light remaining on when you close the boot. That happens when the boot light switch fails to turn off the bulb. That's an easy check. If you don't feel comfortable with the dark art of vehicle electrics then call a local vehicle electrician, or go to a local service station where they can do a few basic checks.

Good luck.

[Bigfellah]

Andyvon - thanks very much. Had not thought of that one at all. However, even if there is a serious earth problem, using a booster to try starting it would work would it not?

[Hopkirk]

Hello?

[Bigfellah]

Hopkirk, no lights nothing at all!

[Hopkirk]

Follow Andyvon's advice then, and don't start beating the poor stater motor.

[Bigfellah]

Hopkirk! I intend to do so. Does Randall give you help at all?

[Hopkirk]

No, I help him, but he's a waste of space and spends too much time with my wife.

[Andyvon]

Hi Bigfellah,

It sounds as if you do have a circuit that has a short and is draining the battery. You can start the car with a booster or jump cables. If you then drive the car for 30 minutes or so the battery will charge up again. However, batteries do not like to be drained and recharged and it won't be long before the new battery is ruined.

I would check those circuits I mentioned above. I forgot to mention the radio/audio equipment as that can short out and drain current too.

[AlBags]

Alternator voltage regulator short.
Starter engaged permanently and burned out because of starter solenoid failure.
Look for current loss by disconnecting main starter cable at battery or starter motor .. and alternator and seeing if battery maintains charge first.