Trouble starting car

[karenmac60]

I've not been using my car much lately, but on the few times I have it won't start. It's turning over but the engine won't fire up, although I've been able to start it eventually by popping the clutch. I know it is probably the battery, but everything else is ok - lights, radio, wipers etc. When I've had an almost flat battery before the lights have been weak. I also took it out for a long run a couple of nights ago so I would've thought that would have charged it. I've been looking online and found stuff about dodgy sparkplugs causing the car not to start. Given that the car is less than 2 years old and was serviced 10 months ago, how likely is it that it's the sparkplugs? I don't know too much about mechanics, but I'd rather find out the cause and try and sort it myself before shelling out any money. Also, it has been doing this intermittently for a few months when I was using it every day.

[karenmac60]

Maybe I've got an old photo and all her car park 'dinks' had prematurely aged her ;)

[DTCwordfan]

True about the distributor and I see your car is very young - karen Have you given it a serious run-out and avoided the rozzers. Guess you could give your points to your OH?!

[karenmac60]

He doesn't drive so it's be pretty difficult ;) To be honest though DT, I'm not one for driving fast - I don't dither, but I'm a tad nervous on the roads. I didn't get my licence till a year after I'd been knocked down - by which point I was a nervous pedestrian!

[DTCwordfan]

Got a track near you, karen - that would be much safer for you.......at least the cars are all going in the same direction?

[karenmac60]

Nothing like that around here DT - I'll have a good run up the lochside soon though, first chance I get when there's no ruddy tourists about ;)

[DTCwordfan]

http://www.knockhill.com/

[Hopkirk]

Naughty naughty, Karen.

[karenmac60]

I don't fancy that sort of thing DT - all looks a bit scary and petrolheady ! Ta though :)

[DTCwordfan]

or a large area like an old airport apron is another alternative.....just get permission to do it first though....

[alexanderd]

If you are just doin g very short journeys then it is almost certainly the battery. Every time you start the engine you need to do a few miles(Ithink its 7) just to put the charge back in. Get it started and give it agood run out, say 30 miles out and the same back and see if it makes a difference.
Alex

[gingejbee]

Karen: if your car is parked outside, you could find one of these useful. Two of my neighbours, who don't use their cars much, have them and swear by them. You can simply plonk it on the dashboard and plug it into the cigarette-lighter socket (which has to be live as opposed to ignition-controlled ie if your cig-lighter works without having to turn the ignition on, then this will work). They also do a more powerful version costing a bit more.

http://www.maplin.co....rickle-charger-228624

[Hopkirk]

The trouble is, Ging, that Karen would have to live somewhere where the sun actually shines.

[karenmac60]

Hey! The sun does shine here, it's just the freezing wind and pi$$ing rain that stops us going out in it ;)

[AlBags]

Not like that at the mo is it?! : ) x

[karenmac60]

It's dry but it's freezing and very windy :(

[Hopkirk]

Oops, Sorry.

I remember hearing Billy Connolly saying he tooks his kids to Glasgow, when they were used to California. One of them looked up at the airport and said
"Dad, why is the sky so low?"