MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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Our P Reg 1.6 Automatic VW Polo wont start.
On turning the key the engine does not turn over. Pretty sure its not the battery as the central locking is working, the interior light comes on when the door is opened and all of the usual lights come on when the key is inserted and turned.
I've got my foot on the brake in P and N so its not that.
Could it be the starter motor?
Does it make a clicking noise?
"Could it be the starter motor? "
check the fuse.
No clicking.
Forget to mention - It hasn't been run for some time.
turn on main beam, how badly do they fade when you try to start it ?
Perhaps not enough power in the battery to throw the solenoid (the clicking noise question above) or if there is a clicking noise there may be a dead spot on the started motor. Try rocking the car back and forth (not sure how this works with an auto) to roll the motor off the dead spot.
Edit - seen your response. Sounds like a flat battery to me (enough power to make interior lights/central locking work, not enough to throw the solenoid in the starter motor)
Pretty sure its not the battery as the central locking is working,
Check the battery first. C/L etc uses virtually no power compared to starting the engine!
Batteries can die overnight too. Seemingly fine one day, absolutely knackered the next! I've had it happen.
(how do people get to adulthood without knowing this stuff 😉 )
Forget to mention - It hasn't been run for some time
How long? Sounds like battery to me......
Sounds like battery. Enough power for lights but not enough to turn the starter.
Attention Motor Mechanics / Experts
everyone on here thinks they are a motor expert.
That's why I put "Expert" in the title. Guaranteed response. 🙂
Starter solenoid could be sticking if you are SURE the battery has enough juice. Either rock car in gear as M_F says, or hit the solenoid casing with a hammer.... hard.... and try again.
Ahh, didn't think about rocking the car to cure a sticking solenoid - just dead spot on motor.
Deffo worth a try.
Ahh, didn't think about rocking the car to cure a sticking solenoid - just dead spot on motor.
How did you get to adulthood MF without knowing that?
Jump lead it across from another car with engine running.
heheh
(although, as I would have been rocking the car anyway, I would have been able to fix/discount that potential problem)
😉
Have to say, the 'hit it hard' technique has only worked a few times for me, and then mainly on older stuff - but, one of it's benefits is that it's free to try and does relieve some of the frustration associated with a non-starter 😆
EDIT: Failed to spot it was an auto.
Rocking the car won't do anything.
An auto needs the engine running to engage a gear.
Yeah I did say I had no idea about autos in my post - I have never owned one and didn't know how it would effect my 'advice'
🙂
Have a quick look to see if the brake lights work , VW's have faulty brake switches , which on an auto will stop it starting - providing your battery is up to strength that is .
immobiliser doing its job...
Probably battery.
Failing that, replace the flux capacitor.
Put petrol in it.
Have a quick look to see if the brake lights work.
Top tip, thanks. I'll take a look at that.
immobiliser doing its job...
If it has an immobiliser and it is doing its job how do stop it from being so efficient? I have they after all.
Put petrol in it.
If it was out of gas the engine would still turn over on the starter motor and it isn't.
Cheers all.
That's the problem. You've put gas in it when it needs petrol. Schoolboy error. How do people get to adulthood etc... 🙂
Sugestion from non expert, find someone with AA/RAC membership and get them to call them out whilst standing beside 'their' car. Oh, and autos have a switch that stops you starting up in D, R etc. I see it's in P or N, praps yer switch is fubar'd.
ignition switches can be common on that age Polo, see if you are getting 12volts @ the starter motor plug when cranking, if you get 12 volts switch ok. it could be the starter or a really dead battery, try jump starting, if it won't turn over with a jump start then chances are the starter has gone. as long as the car is in P or N it should turn over without the footbrake applied on that age polo.
Remove battery connections at each terminal (taking care not to drop spanner across terminals and do an ace arc welding impression) first and clean them up with emery paper etc. Easy thing to do.