It just won't start....

bouzel · Post by **bouzel** » Sat May 12, 2007 12:11 am

Mums got a diesel VW polo 2000 basically a couple of days ago started experiencing problems and car wouldn't start, breakdown guy came out and said it was the alternator fair enough gave us a jump on our way home and to the garage tomorrow.

Went to garage they said the problem was the battery, new battery fitted on our got home went to start the car again and car wouldn't start called breakdown assistance once again said it was the starter motor and started it up again back to the garage.

The garage "confirmed" it was the starter motor and put a new one in picked it up today started fine got home once again started it up again and it wouldn't start this time i thought it's not worth calling the breakdown assistance and i have a possiblity it could be the alternator could anyone confirm this??

The syptoms are:
If the car is jumped it'l start
The car doesn't even turn over like it's got no power
Also if i turn the headlights on turn the key they go completely they don't dim.

I think i might have a go at changing the alternator myself with my polo does anyone know how to losen the serpentine belt or have any instructions on how to remove the alternator please

Many thanks....

Bepe · Post by **Bepe** » Sat May 12, 2007 8:23 am

alternator! changed mine on my ford a few days ago, same symptoms mate! deffo!

Post by **alexperkins** » Sat May 12, 2007 9:10 am

Go to halfords and get a haynes manual - that reveals all

bouzel · Post by **bouzel** » Sun May 13, 2007 11:57 am

I've changed the alternator but is there any test i can do to check it i don't have a meter though....
many thanks

Bepe · Post by **Bepe** » Sun May 13, 2007 2:17 pm

if you have just put a new alternator on you dont need to check it as it shoudl work being a new one! is there any tick over?

bouzel · Post by **bouzel** » Sun May 13, 2007 4:53 pm

Yer the engine ticks over but engine works like it did before except i had to jump it to start it sometimes and other times it would start by itself and i had so many people telling me different things on what it could be (read first post) so I'm not sure wether the alternator fixed it so far had no problems but i don't like waiting for something to happen.....

bouzel · Post by **bouzel** » Wed May 16, 2007 5:25 pm

just when i thought it was working, went to start my car again today, turned the key and nothing happened then got out the old jump leads and started first time if anyone has any ideas please they would be really really appreciated I've had a new battery alternator and started motor put it.
many thanks.....

kipper · Post by **kipper** » Fri May 18, 2007 5:54 pm

just a hunch but wat about one of the leads from the battery? tried checking them?

i had the same problem by the sounds of it. break down guy said it was the alternater, the second break down guy said it was the starter motor i think. got my god father to have a look, and he aint even a qualifified mechanic, and he said its the battery. he went to halfords got a new battery and fitted it and it works fine now. since u already changed the battery my only guess is it can be one of the wires going from the battery might be damaged or loose. just a hunch. i know bugger all about this stuff tho.

bouzel · Post by **bouzel** » Sat May 19, 2007 12:36 am

I thought it might be that to but i checked them and they seem go also if there was a problem with them jumping it woulnd't start it, funny thing is it happened to me again yesterday but after i slammed the door it started up straight away

is there anyway it can be connected to the door and something could be stopping it from starting up..... many thanks

Bepe · Post by **Bepe** » Sat May 19, 2007 9:01 am

sounds like the earth to me

bouzel · Post by **bouzel** » Sat May 19, 2007 4:05 pm

hmm never thought of that is there a way i can check it? also say there was a problem with the earth would jump it make it start cos when i jump it it starts.....

Post by **alexperkins** » Sat May 19, 2007 4:21 pm

Ya it would jump start, because the battery is grounded against the other car

bouzel · Post by **bouzel** » Sat May 19, 2007 5:09 pm

Thing is I'm doing it battery to battery, not battery to engine/ battery so... im considering taking it to main dealer

david burton · Post by **david burton** » Sat May 19, 2007 5:34 pm

if it's intermittent it does sound like something is loose (like the battery cables).

could even be the immobiliser playing up, it's hard to tell

know any local mechanics?

bouzel · Post by **bouzel** » Sat May 19, 2007 5:47 pm

I thought it could have been immobiliser as well but when you jump start the car it's fine ive taken it to three mechanics and none of them could provide a good explanation and even plugged in the computer with no faults, had the starter motor changed with the alternator and new battery which none of them have cured anything, mystery,god does work in mysterious ways....