16v will not start please help

[sd]

Hi all my 1988 16v will not start.
The car was a OK, and then i turned the key it would  not turn over I put the light on and turned  the key and  they dimmed.
The battery is OK I think because if I put some jumpleads on it, it still will not start. If I push start the car it will fire up and run OK. I  think it is the start  but I have not had any trouble with it sticking.

Please help

[rowlers]

what happens when you turn it over? does it try to fire or just turn over - quickly/slowly??
If it starts with a push I would assume it can't be anything major.

Have you checked anything out so far?
Does it smell of petrol when you try to turn - i.e is it flooded?

Sorry can't offer more solutions, the guys on here will need more info first!!

[sd]

when i try to turn the key there is a clicking sound and the engine does not turn over.  the engine does not smell of fuel i have tried hitting the starter motor but it still will not turn over.

[Mr Blue]

i would say thats the starter motor solenoid thats being gay

mine use to do this. Try turning it over then wait for a minute or 2 and see if it fires up.

My motor also caught fire after a few months with the problem

[Redbaron]

Im willing to bet money your battery is fecked.

I had exactly the same problem, tried charging it and everything, would just click rapidly.

put on a different battery, problem solved.

try it.

[mjamoose]

Same problem here! Solution is to buy a new battery.  When I bought the car in march this year it had the original battery!
I suppose it's forgivable considering the age of the car...

[Judderi]

Yeah the starter motor will just click merrily if it cant get enough power from tlhe battery.

[Agreeable Slick]

does the fuel pump prime?

IS there a spark getting to the plugs?

Does the motor actually continually click or just once?