car not starting properly

[julie]

hi my mk2 16v golf is having probs starting think it could be starter motor but not sure and dont wanna spend out if its not the problem. when u go to start it it turns over a few times before it starts and normally that will reset my digital clock or if it turns over and dont start you cant start it again has to be jump started so have to put foot down on accelerater abit to help it start?

[julie]

also when it would not start again and had to be jump started put battery on charge for a bit then it started fine for about a day then went back to struggling to start again,battery is about a year old.

[rubjonny]

fact clock is resetting suggests battery is being drained almost flat, either battery is kaput or there is some kind of voltage drain happening while car is sat.

[julie]

would the starter motor drain the battery if it was knackered? wot else could be draining it while its sitting?

[julie]

sounds quite sluggish turning over,resets the clock sometimes depending how long it takes to start then starts.

[julie]

also would the fact i dont drive very far affect anything drive 4 miles 2 work and 4 miles back

[DarnPB]

also would the fact i dont drive very far affect anything drive 4 miles 2 work and 4 miles back

That will not help in this cold weather. Get the car started somehow and check the voltage across the battery terminals. It should be between 13.8 and 14.4. If it is, then you alternator is doing its job and I would suspect the battery is dying. But before you condem the battery, check the courtesy light in the boot is not remaining on due to a knackered plunger switch.

[julie]

any other ideas just want to make sure i dont pay out for something that isnt knackered??

[mattkh]

Hi
Put the battery on charge and see if that is any better.

[julie]

hi have tried charging it it starts ok for bout a day or two then starts playing up again.