I cannot get my car to start

You have to be a bit more informative here. By 'won't start' do you mean it spins over but won't fire up, or won't even spin over? If it does spin over does it do so sluggishly or with gusto?

Rob Graham

In message , Freddy 00009 writes

I think you really need to furnish us with a little more detail than what you have given us to date. Start by telling us what sort of "Rover" and take it from there.

Has it got sufficient fuel of the correct type?

Hello again,

Thankyou for the replies, sorry that I was a bit vague earlier. When you turn the car over, the starter moter spins & spins. Sometimes it won't fire and sometimes it splutters with smoke comingout of the exhaust. I have checked the battery, all seems ok. The lights work and have tried jump starting the car to no avail. Its a Rover 200 petrol.

So, the starter motor spins the engine perfectly OK and the engine tries to catch but fails. Can we assume that when you last used it it was running well, and you stopped it and now are faced with these symptoms? If so, how long was it between when you stopped it and now are trying to start it? Is the weather damp now but was dry before?

Incidentally, don't blow your gasket about Rovers. This problem could happen to any make! I've had a Rover 216 for about 12 years and it's been virtually faultless.

Rob Graham

When you turn it over how dose it smell? Like there is plenty of petrol getting through?

Dose it seem to be turning over more quickly than normal?