boxst

Hello

My wife's car wouldn't start this morning -- it turns over but nothing else happens.

I guess it's because of the cold / damp, but any suggestions as to how to get things going?

Steve
(Mechanically inept)

Brun

What sort of car? Petrol/Diesel??????

boxst

Hello

It's a Renault Megane petrol.

Steve.

Brun

Chuck it in the bin and use a bike

Brun

.......If not - spray WD40 around the coil and the spark plugs - to drive out moisture

It has got petrol in the tank hasn't it?

boxst

Hello

I tried the WD40 -- made no difference.

I filled it up the other day, otherwise it possibly wouldn't have any petrol!

Steve.

Brun

When it turns, does there sound like there's even the slightest danger it might catch?

boxst

Nope ... sounds very dead to me ...

I could go and shake all the wires I guess!

Brun

Big hill + bump start is the best i can suggest in that case

mj

depends how old it is - WD40 inside dizzy cap

boxst

It's about 5 years, old. WHERE?!

mj

dunno mate - on older cars all the spark plug leads go back to the distributor cap - this unclpis and you spay the inside with WD40 - always worked on my old bangers - sounds like yours is not an old banger

unclebuck

Call the AA

BOB.T

Try locking and unlocking it with the remote, I've had these reset the imobiliser before before you've got round to firing it up. Failing that, crank it with the throttle firmly in the carpet for a while, this should cut the injectors and clear any unburnt fuel in the cylinders, let your foot off as it starts to catch!

Good luck!

Brit_in_Japan

Best not to bump start it. Depending on the fuel pump you might pump neat fuel through your combustion system, down the exhaust and destroy your catalyst. You've done the obvious things, so not being mechanically minded you'd be better off calling out the AA/RAC.

Brun

catalyst - whats that

BOB.T

Bump starting is no different to cranking, you wash your exhaust out with fuel either way!

Anyway, it's just another way to put the sh*ts up you, it takes quite a bit to knack a cat!

boxst

Hello

Thank you for your suggestions. Taking the battery off, charging it for 24 hours AND then jump starting appears to have done the trick.

Now just to find the stupid radio code....

Steve.