Hi, i have a 97 r reg, 1.3 litre petrol fiesta and up until today it had been running/starting fine.

ive made 2 short journeys today, and then the third time, went to the petrol station, got back in the car and noticed that the clock had reset to 0:00 on the dash, and when i tried starting the car nothing was happening. the radio works. When i try and turn the ignition the three red lights dont come on straight away, they sort of take a second to get to full brightness but i still cant start the car. It has since been jump started twice but once i turn it off i cant start it again.

the batterys currently being charged but i have a suspicion that its not a dead battery anyway, although i could be wrong.

any one any idea's? ive been told the alternator and also the starter motor, but im under the impression that if it was the starter motor, then i wouldnt be able to jump start it? but im pretty clueless tbh

thanks
robbo

Hi 'Robbo',

1st, if by 'jump start' you mean jump leads from another motor and it starts, then no, not the starter motor, and definately a flat/dead battery!

when you tried to start the car, did you get a drone, or a 'clicking' sound, if so...flat, (not necessarily dead), battery.

2nd If it was the alternator, the 'battery' light would have been 'on' whilst you where driving....

3rd your clock would not have reset because your battery was low, it would have to have completely disconnected...is it possible that one of the battery terminals was loose? If so, this will be the cause of all your woes!!

thanks, turns out it was a dead battery. and i was silly and bought one from halfords, didnt realise how much over the odds they actually charge!!!

i did try recharging the battery but it doesnt look like the battery took any charge in

either way problem solved for now