Car won't start

yourdeadwright

The missus has a 2011 diesel Renault 7it won't start this morning ,

You hear the engine try for a brief second then nothing, Its a key card start ,

Is it possible it may just be the colds & she will start when it heats up a bit ,

Radio lights & all are working so not a battery , it started perfectly last night ,

Could be the cold to be fair I think diesel’s especially don’t care for it.

no expert by any means but I had a diesel fiesta this time last year and the bastard thing would always have problems in the cold cold mornings

User1998

Just because the lights and radio are working doesn’t mean its not the battery

easygoing39

Sticky solenoid on the starter,hit it with a hammer,works most of the time.

elperello

Try jump leads.

There may be enough power to work lights and radio but not enough to start the engine.

How old is the battery ?

kippy

-Most likely the battery (Being able to start with jump leads would diagnose this without the diagnostic equipment).

-Followed by the starter.

-Followed by Glow Plugs.

An increase in temperature during the day and the car will probably start fine - an increase in general and you won't have the issue again till next time there's a really cold snap.

I had a brand new batter put in last March (the battery that was in it had been in it from new in 2008 so owed me nothing), had starting problems in cold snap in November. Would start fine a few hours later once temp had risen. Mechanic test battery and was showing as near end of life. Got new battery put in on warranty - it's been fine on the warm mornings and it eventually starts on the colder mornings. Mechanic reckons starter is probably nearing end of life but will get thought this winter hopefully with it.

The diesels need a fair wack from the battery to get going and the cold effects the batterys in a bad way I believe so any issues are magnified.

Any mechanic should be able run a test on the battery and get that sorted if its the issue.

yourdeadwright

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121633063#Comment_121633063

Its the original battery so that could be the issues,

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121633136#Comment_121633136

13 years, a good and faithful servant 🙂

Cold probably finished it off.

Try the jump leads and if she goes it's almost 100% you need a new one.

Wanderer78

ah batteries fcuked, 100 quid or so, job done....

yourdeadwright

So general thought is that its the battery,

I was hoping she might just start when it gets a little warmer,

I'll have to try give it a jump this evening so ,

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121633826#Comment_121633826

..it may do, but do you really wanna chance that, as a dying battery wont improve, letting you down at some stage....

yourdeadwright

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121633864#Comment_121633864

Ye that is true, If i jump it i can try get her to the weekend then change the battery myself for her,

BlackEdelweiss

Happened to me during Christmas. Turned out I had run out of diesel 😶

Ezeoul

Invest in a battery booster. Noco have a great range of them.

Great piece of kit to have in the car, and you're never stuck with a flat battery or reliant on someone with jump leads.

.

Hooked

Always handy to have a little cheap multimeter at home - will quickly tell you where your battery is at... loads of other uses.

10 euro or there abouts.

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/lap-ac-dc-digital-multimeter-600v/75337?tc=AI8&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI37PG84HngwMVxIRoCR0jOAQcEAQYAiABEgJm9_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://www.halfords.ie/motoring/tools/hand-tools/rolson-digital-multimeter-710273.html

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121634084#Comment_121634084

...as soon as mine heads south of 12v's, im in trouble, handy thing, those meters....

Hooked

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121634097#Comment_121634097

I use it for all sorts of fault finding and checking in the house, on the car, in my camper... tenner well spent.

yourdeadwright

Just an update i jumped it yesterday evening , It worked the second i hocked up the cables ,

Se started again this morning not a bother,

SharkMX

Ive had two diesel batteries over the years show me they were borked on a freezing cold morning.

You drive along oblivious for months or years and no issues with starting. Really, really cold day and it wont start. Turns out battery is done.

You can jump it and it will be ok when the weather goes above freezing weather. Then when the temp goes way down again you are back to your car not starting. Better to just get it sorted with a new battery when you are ready for it than have a not so surprising surprise of a cold morning again.

yourdeadwright

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121637995#Comment_121637995

I'll get it done the weekend ,

Hooked

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121638027#Comment_121638027

Head to your local Battery World, if you have one nearby...

Cheaper than auto shops, halfords - and 3 year warranty.

They'll test your old one for free - and no charge for fitting.

Miscreant

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121638677#Comment_121638677

Never even knew this Battery World place existed!!! Always amazed at what I find out in this forum 😁

Hotblack Desiato

Renault 7 ?!?

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121644239#Comment_121644239

Funny how we read that without really reading it 🙂