Help - I'm going away tomorrow & my van wont start!

[JamieQPR]

Hi there,

When I turn the key to start my van the engine does not turn over at all.
He started fine yesterday.
The headlights & everything else still work. 
The hazard lights come on when I turn the key & stay on for about 2 minutes after I remove the key.
I'm 99.9% positive the battery itself is not the problem as it was new in January.

Has anybody got any ideas please?

J
 

[silverbullet]

Has the battery done a a lot of starts without the running time to fully recharge it?
One start usually requires at least 10 miles driving to replace what you have taken out.
Check the earths, starter cable terminal, alternator stud etc for tight & bright connections

[Lillythefrenchie2026]

Does it even attempt to turn over, if no I would say starter is dead. Give it a gentle tap and try again?

[pirate-pete]

I'd suggest charging your battery up first.   I would have thought it should run the hazards a lot longer than a couple of minutes. So if I was a betting man. that would be where my money was.

Last comment too from Lillythefrenchie2026 is a good one.  I have had a van where every now and again you needed to tap the solenoid on the back of the starter with a hammer to get it to fire up. 

Then maybe try jiggling the ignition switch and connectors too.  They can sometimes fail so the starter solenoid does not get energised.

I've also seen the thinner wire to the starter fall off before - helped by a bit of lubrication from a leaky engine.

[Alfredo]

One of the best things I've done to our van is put a Bluetooth battery monitor on.

I always know the exact condition of the battery on my phone.

[MarkHughes]

One of the best things I've done to our van is put a Bluetooth battery monitor on.

I always know the exact condition of the battery on my phone.

I didn't know about these, I have 4 cars, 3 of which are prone to low batteries from lack of use, I will have to look into this. Thanks.

[Lillythefrenchie2026]

I wonder if he fixed it?

[clift_d]

One of the best things I've done to our van is put a Bluetooth battery monitor on.

I always know the exact condition of the battery on my phone.

I didn't know about these, I have 4 cars, 3 of which are prone to low batteries from lack of use, I will have to look into this. Thanks.

Don't forget to check the parasitic drain of any bluetooth monitor before you fit it, otherwise you may well just end up making the situation with your low usage vehicles worse.

[Alfredo]

It's been on for a year now with no adverse effects.

[Alfredo]

I didn't know about these, I have 4 cars, 3 of which are prone to low batteries from lack of use, I will have to look into this. Thanks.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08VHMJYXY

[Oren Kipnis]

Automatic...

May be the starter inhibitor on the gear lever.

You can try to crank the engine when the gear lever is in the neutral position.
You can also wiggle the lever a bit in and out of parking position.

[R0B]

Its a 4 speed auto sleeper.

Automatic...

May be the starter inhibitor on the gear lever.

You can try to crank the engine when the gear lever is in the neutral position.
You can also wiggle the lever a bit in and out of parking position.

 

[Lillythefrenchie2026]

Looking at his instagram link in his bio, the van is up and running!!

I think it’s a manual, the auto (auto sleeper) is the same as mine and it means high top.