Hi
I have a 1998 V40. Went to start it today and as I turned the ignition key all the dash lights came on as normal but when I turned to position 3 all the lights on the dash went out and nothing happened. I have checked the battery and all fuses and all are ok. All electrics that operate without ignition (lighter, courtesy lights, clock etc.) work fine but there is absolutely nothing happening when I try to start the car. Any help please?
Andy Middlesbrough UK
Sounds like a bad starter motor.
Manual or auto transmission? Sometimes on auto transmission if gearshift is not fully in "P" then a switch may not allow car to start, but electrical will go to dash.
On 6/8/04 3:44 AM, in article cetrlp$14r$ snipped-for-privacy@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk, "Andy Burke" decided to come out from under the bed and slurred:
Auto or manual? You in park?
Cheers Hammo
It's manual
When I turn the key, nothing happens, no lights on dash or anything, as if the key has not been turned. Could it be the ignition switch?
It could be the ignition switch, but it could be the battery (or battery connections) as well. Often a dying battery (or failing connections) will have enough juice to run everything but the starter motor - energizing the starter will suck so much juice out of the battery that there's nothing left for anything else.
Andy B
Tend to agree with MF about possibility of a dying battery. If battery is original to car it would be approx 6 years old now and nearing end of life. One cell could be suspect which is enough to drop the voltage below that required to activate the starter motor. Sometimes you may hear a clicking noise from the starter solinoid when you turn the ignition key. Do you have a second car you could borrow an alternative fully charged battery from?
Andy C.
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