Urgent starting problem...

[Icecavern]

Just been out this lunch, came back to the car and it didn't start right away, kind of splutered into life. While turning the key the dash lights flickered, almost like the battery was flat.

Anyway all seemed well and drove back to work. But now it wont start at all. Turn the ignition on and there's a few fast clicks somewhere ( no idea if they normally happen as I've not paid much attention ) and all the lights etc come on as normal, the plug heater light goes off etc as expected. Then I turn the key to start and nothing happens at all, nothing. As it's a TDI sport it has the voltage gauge and this stays at 12v so I wouldn't think it's the battery.

I checked the fuses under the battery cover and the ones behind the panel at the end of the dash and they're fine.

Any ideas? Don't want to walk home really

Pete

 

[evo2345]

Cheak the earth wire to the body. I had a simalr problem on my 20vt found out a wire on my starter motor had come loose so it could be that

 

[tommmineh]

Checked the connection from the battery to the starter motor?

 

[depresion]

Sounds like the battery to me, it may supply 12v sitting there but if it's not putting out enough amps then you won't get it to start.

A battery is a chemical reaction and it's a less potent reaction if it's colder (I don't know about Berkshire but sitting here in the CAM lab it's bloody cold right now) also your oil is thicker when cold causing more drag on the engine when you turn it over.

Clicking from behind the dash is normaly a dead givaway though. You can try getting a jump start but be carefull some ECUs don't like it.

Probably too late to ask now but were you gettinh 14.4v or more when the engine was runing earlyer?

Trying to start the car in cold weather with a battery that's low on power will also cause rapid sulphation (sp?) of the plates, leaving te car for a few hours will let some of the sulphate redesolve but if it dosn't start then it won't recover enough for you to get it going.

 

[Icecavern]

The clicks are before I turn the key to crank rather than once I try to start it. I think it's about 3 degrees today, so not warm by any means. I'll try turning the lights on later and see what happens. Won't get to try much out until it gets dark. Might have to nip over to B&Q for a torch lol

Yeah the voltage when running was about 14v so it looked fine.

 

[EdButler]

I believe this has happened a few times before, maybe to Ant?

Basically the wire to the starter is very tight and can sometimes be snapped/forced out. Just give the AA a should and they should sort it, ive seen it a few times when theres absolutely nothing from the starter

 

[EdButler]

Heres some links matey:
http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=67246&highlight=Starter+Motor

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=73644&highlight=Starter+Motor

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=62691&highlight=starter+motor+wire

 

[Icecavern]

Is this something I might be able to see as a fault without taking anything off? If it's obvious I can have a look now and get the chassis number to try Seat Assist with ( Private reg on the car now and I've forgotten the original one )

 

[Icecavern]

Bugger!

Tried Seat Assist, they say they need the original reg number from the car to check if I have cover, only they say the one I've given them isn't right ( It has a private plate on now which isn't down )

So I can't even check if my car is covered by assist

 

[andyj]

dooh....

been trying to see if you sent me any pics with the original reg on..... no luck so far

 

[Icecavern]

Phoned again and they're sending someone out

Thier systems aren't bringing up SEAT reg numbers properly today ( why did the first woman not know this? ) but someone is on the way aparently now.

Will see what they say.

 

[mhill]

Phoned again and they're sending someone out

Thier systems aren't bringing up SEAT reg numbers properly today ( why did the first woman not know this? ) but someone is on the way aparently now.

Will see what they say.

Will probably just tow it to the garage of your choice and arrange a courtesy car:funk

Just noticed the time of your last post, how did you get on?

 

[Icecavern]

Well the reason my car didn't come up on the system is I had a letter wrong

Anyway you guys were right. AA chap turned up and I mentioned to him about split wires, got the torch out and there it was. Took him an hour nearly to fix it as access is a bitch. But all sorted now

As usual SCN ROCKS

 

[gazjones]

if it started the first time then it cant be the starter motor cable this happened to mine and absolutly nothing no clicks or anything

 

[Phil_beeza]

(((Bump)))

was wondering if anyone had pics on how to do this

to remove panel underneath car and locate starter motor wire ?

thanks, in advance

edit, is this the starter wire ? should it be solid, or be able to waggle ?

http://i53.tinypic.com/30dfn86.jpg