Car won't start after washing...

[Daniel1431]

Hello all. I have just cleaned my Seat Ibiza with a pressure washer and waxed it and cleaned all the interior. When i went to move my car the engine will not start and it keeps ticking over. Do you think that i have wet the spark plugs or something like that? The reason i am asking this is i am ment to be going to Cardiff in my car tomorrow but the engine is not starting which means i will not be going anywhere anytime soon.

 

[Ultra_Joel88]

Did you clean the engine bay?

If so I hope you covered the air intake, alternator and battery.#

Try some jump leads

 

[Daniel1431]

Nope i did not clean the engine bay i didnt lift the bonet on the car. We do not have a pair of jump leads neither

 

[Altech]

Could be a flat battery as said before, get hold of some jump leads or a power pack starter in the morning and give it a go. Or you could try to push start the car?

 

[Daniel1431]

Well i have just disconnected the battery to see if it resets it or something. There is power to the battery because the car wants to start is just keeps making a ticking noise and isnt fireing.

 

[Altech]

I hope you know your radio code....as i can imagine a journey to Cardiff would be pretty boring without a radio...

 

[Daniel1431]

Nope the car is not working so i am not going to Cardiff anymore.
I dont know about the code neither hehe.
I do not know what to do now?....

 

[kittyk8e]

did u have the radio on when u was cleaning it with out engine on?? u tried bumping it?

 

[Daniel1431]

Nope as we have no jump leads

 

[Sisson]

is it just clicking? or actually cranking over?

just push it, ignition on 2nd gear, get up some speed, pull clutch out, rev, away you go....

 

[Ultra_Joel88]

dont need jump leads to bump start....

 

[keano20v]

push start it man

 

[Daniel1431]

I will ask my dad when he comes home to try and bump it with me. Nope we didnt have the engine on or anything like that.

 

[Leigh15]

Sounds like you may have a duff battery - if you can get it running, most quick tyre places do a FOC battery test these days - or halfrauds could sort you out

 

[Jaki2008]

hope this helps

I had the same problem with a different car i had.
I parked up went to pick kids up tried starting her up but she didn't want to know doing exactly what yours is doing.
bump started it managed to get it home and luckily it turned out to be the battery so try that first if not i would say get some one to check it isnt the starter motor or alternator.

 

[ScottHmk4]

my battery died on me not long after i got my car, bought a new battery

 

[Daniel1431]

Well i have took it to the garage as it is under warranty. I took it there monday and they have no idea what is wrong with the car as it wont start and now they have made the battery go flat. I really have no idea what the hell is wrong with this car?!
Its been out of action for like a week!

 

[jtonline]

Pressure washer might have forced water into some of the electronics somewhere. What has the garage checked so far I wonder? Has the car's diagnostics been checked for error codes?

The ECU is under the plastic bit at the bottom of the windscreen, is it or has it been wet?
You mentioned 'a ticking noise' in post #5 - have the relays been checked to see if there is any corrosion around them?
Has the starter been checked for broken or corroded wires?
Does the engine immobiliser light flash on the dashboard as this would indicate a problem with the key or the receiver in the ignition barrel?

OK, I'm out of ideas now, lol.

P.S. I assume they did try a new battery?

 

[L5FLD]

Had a similar problem before with my ibiza. Turned out to be a faulty connection with the ECU. Not sure if this is any help but thought it would come in handy. Good luck with solving it.

 

[Daniel1431]

Thanks for the posts back, i am going to pass some of this information on to the garage later today.