Honestly, out of all the questions we get at Grimmer Motors, “Why won’t my car start?” is right up there with the big ones. You’re not alone – happens on rainy mornings out near Te Rapa, or just as often after a sunny lunch break down in Frankton. Even new-ish hybrids and trusty old Corollas or Honda Fits can decide they’re not going anywhere, especially after a typical Hamilton cold snap or a scorcher of a day when the battery’s been copping it. So, let’s pop the bonnet and break down what’s most likely stopping your car from firing up, and a few things you can try before calling in the cavalry.
Common reasons your car won’t start
Dying or dead battery
Kiwi conditions – think fog in winter, mad potholed city roads, start-stop traffic on Ulster Street, and hot summers – can all bash your battery around. Batteries don’t like being worked too hard or sitting for too long, which is bad news for a daily commuter in Hamilton or a family wagon parked up for a couple of weeks out in Cambridge.
If you go to start the car and get nothing – no whir, no lights, no radio, not even a click – odds-on it’s your battery. Sometimes you’ll get a dash light warning, sometimes just silence. Batteries can fail because of old age, leaving your lights on at the Pak’nSave parking lot, or something simple like a loose terminal wire or corrosion. Here’s more on the different ways your battery can let you down.
If you’re keen, you can try jump-starting the car. If it fires up, great, but if it keeps happening, might mean you’ve got an alternator or a starter motor issue instead.
- Swap out the battery for a new one if yours keeps dying
- If your alternator’s shot (we see this heaps in older Mazdas and Subarus), replace it
- Give those battery connections a good clean now and then
Battery terminal corrosion
This one’s a classic – one of our techs will open up the bonnet on a Suzuki Swift from Morrinsville and the terminals are white and crusty. Corroded battery terminals block the electrical flow, meaning you get no power even if your battery’s actually sweet. A quick clean with the right gear, and you’re often sorted. Try keep those terminals clean, especially after summer rain or if you park under trees by the Uni.
Alternator on its way out
Your alternator’s what keeps the battery topped up while driving – so if you’re struggling to start up in the morning (especially in the suburbs, after lots of short runs: Nawton, Melville, Hillcrest), it could be this. We see this a bit in older Euros (Peugeot 308s or VW Golfs). Warning signs: dimming headlights, weird electrical gremlins, the battery light flicks on. For the full run-down, check symptoms of a failing alternator.
- Car won’t start, or starts then stalls
- Dimming lights, funny noises, or the battery light stays on
- Even things like your stereo sounding rough
Ignition switch problems
If your battery’s fine (lights and radio work), but your car needs a few goes to turn over, it’s possible your ignition switch is having a moment. Especially true with older Toyotas, or oddball imports – seen that plenty! Usually worth getting a pro to take a look.
Starter motor drama
One common call-out on a chilly Hamilton morning – turn the key and all you get is that “click-click-click”. Starter motors do wear out, can get jammed or just die. If it’s clicking but won’t crank, especially on something like a Hyundai Santa Fe or a Mercedes A-Class, here’s some more signs it’s the starter.
Dodgy ignition coil
A bit more rare, but if your coil’s gone, your engine won’t get the spark it needs. If you’re driving an older Nissan Tiida or a European turbo petrol, and you’re handy with a volt meter, check the coil for power.
What to do if you’re stuck
- Try a jump start (if you’ve got cables and another car)
- Call in a tow truck
- Ring up AA roadside
- If you’re local, tow or call your mechanic
- If you’re around Hamilton or just out (Gordonton, Tamahere, or out Matangi way), give us a bell
Got old batteries lying around?
Don’t chuck ‘em in the bin! Bring any old car batteries to Grimmer Motors – we recycle them and for each one, we donate 2 to 3 native trees to Trees for Survival. Turns some pretty nasty stuff into something genuinely good for the environment. Easy as.
Stuck with starting issues in Hamilton?
If you’re in Hamilton or close by – even out in Rototuna, Ngāruawāhia or Tamahere – and your car just won’t start, just swing past or give us a ring. At Grimmer Motors, our team’s worked on everything from Honda Insights and Kia Souls to those tricky Audi A3s. We’ll get you sorted quickly, with honest advice and a straight-up quote. For car service Hamilton, battery swaps, WOF Hamilton, hybrid repair or just figuring out why your ride hates you this week – we’ve got your back.