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My friend has a Mk4 Ford Fiesta with a 1.25 16V Zetec engine.

She went to start it earlier today, it turns over but it makes a strange clicking/chugging sound:

http://sndup.net/j323

I've never heard that sound from an engine before, what could it be? Is that the sound of an engine not getting fuel?

It has previously been starting and running fine. The ambient temperature is about 4°C.

Update: Having spoken to the owner again, apparently the dashboard has been playing up a bit this week with the lights flashing (it didn't do that when I had a quick look earlier). So I'll look at the fuse boxes tomorrow - is there anything in particular I should look at first?

Andrew Morton
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While it sounds very loud, to me it just sounds like the starter solenoid going in and out due to either a flat battery or a bad connection at the battery.

You can hear the starter turn the engine over a few times, but then there isn’t enough power to keep the starter turning and the solenoid engaged.

Presumably the engine isn’t running at this point?

Check the battery connections are clean and that the battery isn’t flat.

HandyHowie
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