Car won't start .. top suspects?

[Conor]

Morning chaps

So I was chatting to an old school friend the other day who has a W203 C-Class which will no longer start.

I'm just curious as to what it could be. I asked the usual suspects and he says he has fully battery, i.e. lights and all electrics work fine no problem. So alternator would seem ok?

I then said starter and he just said no..strangely. But he did say you could here a clicking sound in the engine bay (that he said didn't sound like starter)....so I thought relay, that may be clicking, but not closing the circuit...?

So.. my thoughts are:

- Bad earth
- Starter is gone and needs rebuilt.
- Relay is broke
- Ignition module/key switch (unlikely given symptoms..?)
- Some other fault in an ECU that needs STAR to guide us.
- It's not even cranking so fuel and stuff isn't even a consideration right?

...My money is on starter. Under what circumstances can you jump the starter points or is that cowboy? I saw a guy do with a forklift before and seemed a neat trick.

He fancies scrapping the car as it's not worth fixing. And I like a challenge. (Be careful what you wish for, eh!?)

Thank you

 

[jays705]

Hi Conor

I'd go with starter but best to get diagnostics for codes

jay

 

[M80]

Short the heavy duty connections on the starter solenoid to see if it spins.

 

[ajlsl600]

As above. Bypass coil. If starts go look relay and coil

 

[Conor]

Thanks everybody..

Yea, i'll plug it in first anyway and give the starter jump a go.

Cheers.
Conor

 

[Conor]

Thanks all. Gave the starter a few knocks when starting and it fired right up.

Going to get refurbed now.

Cheers

 

[brandwooddixon]

Common starter issue - glad you found it. Solenoid to throw the drive gear onto the flywheel fails or sticks (light tap with a hammer often frees it). Unless the gear is fully engaged the main coils aren't energised to turn the motor.