Car starting mystery!

[stuibaby]

Good afternoon All!

I started my car this morning - standard.

Stopped and filled up and started car to head in to town - Standard!

Left car in shopping car park (Under cover) for a hour then when i returned and tried to start i had....

No Turn over - just a crackling sound like electricity crackling.

The dash lights would go off during and would return after and then all my clocks and date reset to standard factory.

I tried a couple of times to start (COme on i was stuck in a car park with a soon to expire exit ticket!)

Then the crackling disappeared and the car would turn over by maybe half a stroke then die.

So i had a lovely girly friend sit in the car as i bumped it and it flew home all happy as it would have if the starter motor played its part!

Then i got home and parked on a hill (Just incase!) and turned off.

Then the car started back up PERFECTLY fine.

Then i turned off again - then started it up again PERFECTLY fine.

Im leaving it o the hill for a few hours to see what happens.

But does anyone have any ideas/experience and could advise me what to check?

Thanks,

Stuart

 

[IbizaAlex]

Loose terminal on the battery?

 

[tom w]

terminals on starter as it sounds like its arcing

 

[stuibaby]

I checked the Battery terminals they are on nice and tight.

HOw do i get to the starter terminals guys?

Thanks for the adive

 

[Damo]

I'd be checking your alternator as well. Worth checking this asap otherwise it'll be call up to the RAC or AA etc if it gives up while you're out and about (as it did for me on the way back from Edition 38).

 

[Fl@pper]

either those above or in addition as you can 'hear crackling' maybe worth check/change the ignition switch part of the steering lock - used to be a real bug bear on the older models

 

[stuibaby]

Took battery to be checked and it was the original battery! (lasted 9 years which isnt bad?)

Failed the test obviously and new battery was purchased.

Iv not heard the car start up as quick and well as it did after the new battery good lord!

Old battery had like green/blue fungus growing which when touch crumbled into a powder.

Glad shes all ok now