Not your usual non starter

2000 Vauxhall Astra 1600
Car: Vauxhall Astra
Year: 2000
Variant: 1600
Categories: Leaks & Noises
I've had an intermittent problem with this car for some time now. Take today, drove it into town, no problems at all. Go to start it again to come home and nothing. No warning lights, just dead. Doesn't even turn over. Radio works! Friend came down with some leads and tested for an earth fault, nothing. Yet bump start it and it starts fine. Get home, turn it off, turn it back on, starts perfectly. Might be OK for a couple of days then it will happen again.
Anybody got any ideas?
Might be worth changing the starter motor but I don't know.
Any help gratefully received.
Problem added: Jul 29, 2010 (13 years ago)
Can be hard to find intermittent faults .Can only suggest going back to basics and testing battery , alternator output , starter motor ,wiring to solenoid and all connections / earths and also see if any battery drain .
Answered Jul 29, 2010 (13 years ago)
sounds like a starter motor fault
Answered Jul 29, 2010 (13 years ago)
sounds like faulty alternator to me. check alternotor belt for tightness. if belt loose it wont keep your battery charged
Answered Jul 29, 2010 (13 years ago)
then it would squeel!!!
Answered Jul 29, 2010 (13 years ago)
who said it didnt squeal. cant be faulty starter if it starts with jump leads.
Answered Jul 29, 2010 (13 years ago)
Solenoid may be sticking! extra current from another battery would help,Funnily enough have experienced this problem!
Answered Jul 29, 2010 (13 years ago)
never heard of that one but sounds like a gud point. ya can never know everything on car i am always learning
Answered Jul 29, 2010 (13 years ago)
Maybe I'm mis reading the O.P , but did you not say it was dead apart from radio ? and he used leads to check earthing only ? You said you bump started car , not jump started with leads ?
Answered Jul 29, 2010 (13 years ago)
Thanks for all your replies, much appreciated.

It doesn't squeal and I did bump start not jump start. Friend checked the earths which seem to be OK.
Someone else suggested ignition as it does absolutely nothing when you turn the key, not even click.
I've got someone coming out at the weekend to check the ignition and maybe change the starter.
My problem now is how do I know whether the problem is fixed as the fault is intermittent? Ahhhh, CARS, who'd 'ave 'em!!!
Answered Jul 29, 2010 (13 years ago)
Thanks for clearing those points up . As mentioned ,quite possibly a faulty ignition switch , well worth a look .As you say , intermittent faults can be a pain .Lets know how you get on .Best of luck .
Answered Jul 29, 2010 (13 years ago)
I seem to be having pretty much the same problem,for the past several weeks. Woke up one morning the car wouldn't unlock via key opened the door by the lock put key in the ignition nothing no ignition lights or anything except for a slight whine. Was advised to change the starter motor, which i duely did. worked fine for 3 dyas max then same problem. Got an auto electrician to look at it told me to get a new battery again i instantly did.. Worked fine thought my worries were over, but unfortunately not exactly 1 week after changing battery same thing again. dead as a dodo. this time i had the ignition switch changed and once again this worked for a couple of days. Today the same thi9ng no ignition lights are anything.... Am at a loss as to what the next course of action is any help is greatly appreciated..

Was wondering could it not be the alternator over charging the battery, or am i looking along the route of ecu
Answered Aug 18, 2010 (13 years ago)

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