My Ford Focus won't turn on!!

[OhSnap688]

So I made a video of me trying to turn on my car.
VIDEO

Now I believe it is spark plugs or bad ignition but I want opinions because my dad thinks its the battery but I KNOW that's not it.

Funny part is, in order to get it into the garage I had to turn it on. I was turning the key and it made a weird noise so I didn't keep it turned for more then 1/2 a second. But when I let go it actually turned on, so I moved it into the garage and turned it off and cleaned it because I urgently need the car tomorrow. And BAM it wouldn't turn on when I wanted to put it back outside. So lucky me

All suggestions would be greatly appreciated

 

[JulesMaximus]

Possibly the starter?

 

[OhSnap688]

Could be. I just hope my dad realizes that taking it to a mechanic is the best bet

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: OhSnap688
Could be. I just hope my dad realizes that taking it to a mechanic is the best bet

It sounds like the starter is jammed up. It's not spinning freely and it isn't turning the engine over either.

 

[QurazyQuisp]

How many miles do you have on it?

For the most part, The focus is supposed to be an amazingly reliable car... I have yet to have a problem with mine, about 110,000 miles on it now.

 

[iamwiz82]

Which engine?

 

[OhSnap688]

Mine has 80000+

 

[OhSnap688]

Gosh I'm so screwed I need it tomorrow.

 

[DougK62]

Sounds like starter to me. Should be cheap and easy to fix. If you really need the car try cranking it and have someone bang on the starter with a screwdriver - that's worked for me in a pinch.

If you go to a mechanic you shouldn't say you tried to "turn on your car". Say "turn over the car" or "start the car", they're better terms.

 

[desy]

If the battery is 5-6 yrs old change it anyway, proactively instead of reactively.
Cheap enough part and simple to do yourself

 

[Ragnarok2]

My Ford Focus won't turn on!!

Should have thought about that before you bought a Ford...

 

[zixxer]

Doesn't sound like the battery to me - but an easy way to find out is to take it to autozone and they'll test it.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: OhSnap688
So I made a video of me trying to turn on my car.
VIDEO

Now I believe it is spark plugs or bad ignition but I want opinions because my dad thinks its the battery but I KNOW that's not it.

Funny part is, in order to get it into the garage I had to turn it on. I was turning the key and it made a weird noise so I didn't keep it turned for more then 1/2 a second. But when I let go it actually turned on, so I moved it into the garage and turned it off and cleaned it because I urgently need the car tomorrow. And BAM it wouldn't turn on when I wanted to put it back outside. So lucky me

All suggestions would be greatly appreciated

My suggestion is to check all the battery and ignition connections.
Then put a VOM across the battery and hope it's over 13.8 - 14.4 vdc.
If it were me, I'ld put a jumper on it and let it sit for a minute then try to start it.
that slapping sound could just be the solendoid trying to engage.
A weak or dying battery will cause that.
it would be so funny if it's a dying battery.... us old guys have dealt with more than just this car we have today.

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: DougK62
Sounds like starter to me. Should be cheap and easy to fix. If you really need the car try cranking it and have someone bang on the starter with a screwdriver - that's worked for me in a pinch.

If you go to a mechanic you shouldn't say you tried to "turn on your car". Say "turn over the car" or "start the car", they're better terms.

isnt the starter under the car?

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: desy
If the battery is 5-6 yrs old change it anyway, proactively instead of reactively.
Cheap enough part and simple to do yourself

No point. Batteries die slowly enough that you might as well hang on to them until it feels "weak" when cranking in the morning, then change it out.

OP, try bump-starting. It sounds like the starter motor is jammed.

Originally posted by: AlienCraft
My suggestion is to check all the battery and ignition connections.
Then put a VOM across the battery and hope it's over 13.8 - 14.4 vdc.
If it were me, I'ld put a jumper on it and let it sit for a minute then try to start it.
that slapping sound could just be the solendoid trying to engage.
A weak or dying battery will cause that.
it would be so funny if it's a dying battery.... us old guys have dealt with more than just this car we have today.

The alternator outputs 14.4 or so, but the battery won't get that high. Above 13 is plenty.

 

[BoomerD]

That could be a sign of a bad battery, (not enough juice to properly energize the starter/solenoid) it could be a bad starter or solenoid. Just because the car "dings" when you open the door doesn't mean it has enough power to start the car...
Since it appears neither you nor your dad is mechanically inclined...take it to a good shop.

 

[BlackTigers]

I remember going out last winter in a foot of snow to hit the goddamn starter with a hammer to get it to crank. Not fun. =/

 

[dud]

It sounds like you have a MK-19 Grenade Machine Gun mounted under the hood.

That can't be good.

 

[Ragnarok2]

Originally posted by: dud
It sounds like you have a MK-19 Grenade Machine Gun mounted under the hood.

That can't be good.

LMFAO! So True!

 

[Ragnarok2]

Originally posted by: OhSnap688
So I made a video of me trying to turn on my car.
VIDEO

Now I believe it is spark plugs or bad ignition but I want opinions because my dad thinks its the battery but I KNOW that's not it.

Funny part is, in order to get it into the garage I had to turn it on. I was turning the key and it made a weird noise so I didn't keep it turned for more then 1/2 a second. But when I let go it actually turned on, so I moved it into the garage and turned it off and cleaned it because I urgently need the car tomorrow. And BAM it wouldn't turn on when I wanted to put it back outside. So lucky me

All suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Also, thats a very appropriate video title. I approve.

 

[exdeath]

I don't have sound on this comp right now, but from the way people are describing it, it sounds like the noise you are hearing might just be the starter solenoid clacking.

Basically the battery has enough power to run lights and energize the starter solenoid, but as soon as the high current circuit to the starter is closed, the current demand essentially kills the battery (in the same way a high powered amplifier or PC dims the lights when powered on). Robbed of it's energizing current the solenoid disengages via spring, and with the current load removed, the battery is able to power low current devices again...including the solenoid that just released. This process repeats at the rate of the clacking you hear.

Get the battery load tested.