Cursed thing!

Went to start my car, it’s a diesel engine and it’s coldish so I gave it two pre-warms before I tried to start it. Nothing out of the ordinary happened.

Turned the key onto ignotion and I got nothing from the engine but a loud repeated ticking noise whilst the dash board lights all went mad and the central locking flicked rapidly on and off.

Engine bay looks perfectly dry, I had expected a load of snow in there shorting something out.

Anyone give me some idea of whats going on?

Rover L-series (intercooled) which has worked perfectly so far.

Flat Battery

It’s a Rover.

I haven’t a clue but I think “ignotion” should actually be a word…for the ignition on really old cars

It’s over

sounds like the battery is one it’s way out, and as you try to crank it, the voltage drops so low that stuff goes slighty bonkers. if a battery is on it’s way out, the cold will really empahsise it.

my 205 did it in the cold until i changed the battery…

Probably your ABS…

New battery and it’s a Rover.

sorry about the poor typing – hands are freezing and a bit clumsey.

Will see if I can bump start the car from another one then? Then I’ll know it’s a flat battery.

People may laugh at it being a rover but my last one got to 216k miles before some twunt pulled out in front of me writing it off. Cheap and reliable (until today), thats all I ask.

If it is the battery probably cheaper to buy a new Rover.