1. Dead or Weak Battery
Right, so you jump in your Suzuki Swift parked on Peachgrove Road or your Honda CR-V after a long day at The Base, turn the key — nothing. Dead silence or maybe a few clicks. Classic. Nine times outta ten, it’s the battery. We get loads of cars from Tamahere and Te Awamutu in with this. Heat in summer and the chilly Waikato winters are tough on batteries, especially with all those stop-starts on Cobham Drive.
Grab a multimeter if you have one and check the voltage. Should be about 12.6 volts if it’s healthy. Don’t forget to have a nosey for any green or white crust on the battery terminals — that corrosion stops power getting through. Loose cables are a common culprit too. If you’re not sure, bring it into the workshop, we’ll suss it fast.
2. Faulty Starter Motor
You turn the key in your Nissan Skyline or Volvo XC70, and all you get is a click — no crank. Could be the starter motor or the relay throwing a hissy fit. Starters cop a hiding with all the short trips and Hamilton traffic lights, lots of wear and tear.
Our technicians see starter issues pretty often, especially in older Mazdas and Peugeots. If the relay or motor is tired or burnt out, you’ll need it looked at. Good news is, we can test these quickly and sort a replacement if needed.
Learn more about Starter Relay Replacements
3. Fuel System Issues
Mitsubishi Outlander cutting out on Kahikatea Drive? Engine cranks but refuses to fire? Could be no fuel getting through. Modern cars (even hybrids) are fussy when it comes to fuel delivery — blocked fuel pumps, dirty filters, or clogged injectors are all common NZ car problems, particularly after a round of rough roads in Morrinsville or Cambridge.
We’ll check your fuel pump is working, the filter isn’t filthy, and the injectors haven’t gummed up. Sometimes it’s just old fuel if your car’s been sitting for yonks.
Check out: Fuel Pump Repair
4. Ignition System Problems
Seen plenty of Toyota Corollas rolling in from Rototuna with dodgy spark plugs or fried ignition coils after a cold snap. No spark means no start, simple as that. You might notice the engine sounds rough or misses just before it conks out completely.
We’ll check your spark plugs and coils, swap ’em if needed — easy win and gets you back on the road fast.
Improve your knowledge about ignition coils
5. Security System Malfunctions
We see more and more Euro cars like Audis, Citroens and the odd Lexus playing up after a battery change or flat battery — anti-theft immobilisers love to have a tantrum. If your engine won’t even try to turn over, and there’s a flashing key/lock icon, the security system could be blocking it.
Sometimes following the steps in your manual will get things going, but if not, one of our techs can sort it. These systems are getting trickier every year!
Related reading: Car Immobiliser Fault Repairs
6. Engine Control Unit (ECU) Issues
If your dash lights up like a Christmas tree when you try to start your car — Pukete to Hillcrest, doesn’t matter where — it could be the ECU. These little computers do a lot behind the scenes. A dodgy sensor or blown fuse can mess with start-up.
We’ll plug in our scan tool, read those error codes, and let you know what’s up. ECU issues are sneaky but not always bank-breaking if caught early.
7. Hydro-Locked Engine
Funny one, but we’ve seen everything — including hydro-locked engines after someone tried driving their BMW or Kia Sorento through floodwater on Te Rapa Road. Water sucked into the intake will stop your engine dead, sometimes with a real nasty crunch. If your car just died after hitting standing water or a deep puddle, get it towed in straight away — trying to start it again can totally wreck the engine.
More on hydrolocking here — but best leave this one to the pros!
We know every car’s got its own quirks, so if you’re having engine starting hassles — whether it’s a hybrid Prius from Raglan or a trusty old Hyundai i30 in Hamilton East — we’re here to help. Grimmer Motors uses all the latest gear for car service, WOF Hamilton checks, hybrid repair, and fixing starting dramas. Our techs see everything the Waikato throws at a car. Friendly, honest advice, quick diagnostics, and we’ll get you motoring again fast.
If you want to book in for a check or just want some straight-up advice, hit the button below.