Hi there,
I was recommended to ask here for advice regarding the probs I'm experiencing starting my Ford Focus. It's a 2000 model TDDi and was fine when I bought it a week ago, started great, smooth drive etc etc. Today, I've gone to start the car and it just makes a "clicking" noise which repeats "click, click, click" whilst I am trying to start the car. The lights on the dash come on and the windows work fine so seemingly the battery is okay. The battery is only 4 months or so old so it ought to be decent.

I'm pretty much clueless about cars
Any ideas/advice appreciated!
Thanks in anticipation of your expertise,
Toddy.

 

Sounds like a dodgy starter motor mate...

 

Cheers, Evans. It appears so from asking around and searching on google. Any ideas on a rough estimate of cost for a new one?

 

Have you tried charging the battery first?

 

Not tried the battery yet, it seemed okay as all the lights on the dash fired up and the electric windows work... Thing is, now that I've tried it a few times, the battery is weak The battery is only 4 or so months old... I was advised to get a multimeter on there and check the voltage is 12v+... Or, failing that, the starter motor...

So annoying, as I've only had the car a week and all seemed fine

 

As soon as you try and crank it the voltage will drop. Try a battery charger on it or jump leads

 

Yes mate as above as well really as the battery could be at fault also...Another point though If you can charge the battery and get the car to run somehow(bump It?) check there Is 14v at the battery as this shows the alternator Is charging the battery correctly

Leave us know how you get on

 

Cheers for your replies I bought some jump leads today and have a mate coming round to try the jump start tomorrow... Fingers crossed...

 

So my mate came round and we managed to jump start the car after a few minutes of having the leads hooked up. It did take a few attempts but was then fine... So I thought "it's the battery." Went to the shops today and bought a new one, brought it home and hooked it up to the old battery to jump start it again. (If I fit the new battery then I invalidate the guarantee and can't return it if it turns out to be something else, hence using the jump leads.) With the new battery connected via leads, I'm back to the clicking sound... This is driving me mad, I only just bought the car a week or so ago and wonder if the guy sold me down the road

Starter motor???

I'm thinking to get a mobile mechanic to come and run a diagnosis - thoughts?
Ta

 

It's the starter motor.
The 'clicking' is the solonoid on the starter motor kicking in. Motors sticking/on its way out...