Hi All, my car is poorly and I would be greatful for any input you think may be relevant. Here goes, It is a Ford Escort Estate 1.4 initially we thought it was the imobiliser so have disconected the door locks from the imobiliser, and it started fine yesterday, but today it will not start again. The battery seems fine and we have dash lights but when you turn the key there is nothing. Any help in identifying the problem will be most greatfully recieved. (could it be a starter motor problem?) thank you in advance. Sarah :)

When I don't start I find a malt forced between my lips gets me started fine!

J

Thanks John, atleast I am smiling now :D If only it would cure everything, I think I might have to wait until later to indulge myself with a tipple got to get this car going first. Sarah :)

Nothing or a click?

What makes you think the battery is fine? This is generally the first thing to have checked.

Christine

Hi Christine, I dont think it is the battery because every thing else is working ,lights, radio, dash lights, have also just tried jump starting it and there is no turn over on the car at all, and there is no noise not even a click. Sarah :)

Trouble is, with modern electrics it's so hard to tie a problem down without an in depth knowlege of the model. A friend had a similar problem with a Carlton. It turned out to be the micro processor and that cost an arm and a leg!

Sorry! John

Hi Sarah

It could be so many things, lights will work even when the battery is to low to turn the car over (and if it is completely dead then the car won't jump start in my experience).

Other common things are, as you say, starter motor or cracked distributor cap or lack of petrol.

I think you need a man (or woman) who can!

Christine

See if this can help you.
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/karacare/starting.html

Good luck!
Kath.

Have you checked your alternator? My car did the same thing, then nothing we kept putting in a recharged battery and would work well till the battery died. Decided to get our alternator rebuilt and now it works fine :)

Good luck :)

easy way to check if it is the battery is to use jump leads from another car. If it starts you need a new battery. Failing that it will be the starter motor which would need to be removed and check bendix gearing to see strenght of return, it week new starter motor (info from hubby).
Sue

Hi Mason,
if you are sure its not the battery it can be something as simple as the key ignition barrel.
Its just a simple case of replacing it . I would take the car to an auto electrician and check it out .
I had this problem on my Calibra ( actually it was one of the many hundreds of problems I had on it but I wont go there ...... ;) )
Good luck
Lel

Hi Lel

How is she going to get the car to an electrician if she can't get it started :D

Christine

Tow-rope? ;) :D

Doh!!! :rolleyes: I suppose you have a point there Christine ;)
But you can get mobile auto electricians to come out and have a look . I would get it checked out though as mine had a habit of cutting out and not starting back up and it could occur in a dangerous stretch of road .
lel

Had the same thing with our chrysler and it turned out to be the ignition barrell too!
We had thought battery, starter motor but then when we were in a Multi storey car park where it was going to be IMPOSSIBLE for the RAC to get their van to us or to tow us out as it is an automatic the car refused to start so the repair man totally dismantled the barrell andgot the car going !

Needless to say we had a new barrel put in as soon as possible ! although it did work for the few days we had to wait for the barrell.

HTH
Jude

Could be any part of the ignition system, most likely to be the coil or the starter though. Is a pain when these go as having to bump start the car isnt much fun, lol, especially if your on your own :s