My Car Keeps Breaking Down

[tiggerblue10]

I have a problem with my Fiesta LX 2004. Its completely stopped in the middle of a busy main road twice in the last month now but there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with it according to a recovery chap and a mechanic. I've been told by various people that the reason it does this is because I only make small journeys each day which doesn't allow the battery to warm up enough.

Has anyone else had this problem? What do you do to prevent this?

[derekpara]

Do you mean the engine stopped running while you were moving, or the engine wouldn't start ?

Also, batteries don't need to warm up.

D

[tonyav]

So tigger, the car just dies and when the mechanic comes it starts ok !, or does he start it with a booster ?.

[tiggerblue10]

Yes, the lights still remain on and the engine stops and I can't start it no matter what I do. I probably do mean the engine and not the battery.

I'm useless with cars so please bear with me.

[tonyav]

tigger, when you turn the key does the engine turn over but won't start ?.

[tiggerblue10]

Well the first time it stopped I had to call the AA. When he eventually arrived 2 hours later he used jump leads and it started.

Then last night when it happened again I called my dad and he came and did the same thing and it started.

[tiggerblue10]

When I try starting it, it makes a constant clicking noise. And also the brake stays pressed down and won't come up.

[tonyav]

Right then tigger, it does sound like you have a duff battery. You can either charge it up now and again or get a new battery.

[tonyav]

The brake pedal tigger !, does it go right down to the floor ?.

[tiggerblue10]

It happened with the last battery and my dad got a new one a year ago. He charged it fully today.

Also, I get a yellow (ABS) thing light up on the dashboard whatever that means.

[tonyav]

tigger, if it were my car then I would charge the battery up and clean all the connectors and battery terminals and give them a smear of vasaline and also check the battery earth cable were it is bolted to the car body.

[tiggerblue10]

Yes, thats what I mean. The brake pedal. It stays on the floor an won't come back up.

[tonyav]

Does the abs light come on while you are driving it, tigger ?.

[tonyav]

When does the brake pedal do this, tigger, Hope its not when your driving it !.

[tiggerblue10]

Right, well I'll have to write all this down as its gobbledegook to me.

1. Clean connectors
2. Check battery terminals
3. put vaseline on battery terminals
4. Check battery earth cable bolted to car body

[tonyav]

tigger, talk to me about the brakes.

[Zacs-Master]

1. Go to halfords and get a battery check done.
2. Brake problem is probably the master cylinder which is nackered. Unless some of the brake caliper joints ate leaking.

[tiggerblue10]

What happens is (its one of those dual auto-manual gear cars btw) when its goes down to 1st gear automatically, the gear indicator starts flashing and then the (ABS) thing comes on. I then can't drive off so I have to put my hazard lights on and get myself to a parking slot as I can't accelerate.

[tonyav]

Not if her abs light is on, Zac.

[tiggerblue10]

The brake pedal is fine until I switch the car off completely after parking then try to turn the engine back on again.

[tonyav]

Are you sure it's the abs light and not the engine management light, tigger.
The engine management light will have a picture of an engine on it.