Car doesn't start

Hi Guys,

Tonight I tried to start my i10 (bought in Oct 2009) but did not start at all, she simply did not respond while starting. sound was like starter was not at all connected.

Observations: I noticed power windows were not working everytime (sometimes it do and sometimes it did not), all lights in the console were lighten up so I thought it shouldn't be battery problem.. dunno if it was right or wrong?? central locking is not working when I lock the driver's door all door dont get locked (had to lock each manually). I turned OFF and ON the ignition many times to see if something look unusual to my eyes and I found the music system's (factory fitted) lights just blinks and turn on after a while, and while starting the car hearing tuk... tuk... tuk sound in the dash but never felt that the current is flowing thru starter (normally when battery goes weak starter tries to start but lack of battery power it cant start the car but we can hear the starter's sound, right??)

I called up Hyundai Road service and the guy asked my few questions like how the lights in the console responds when I try to start up the car, which light goes dimm when I turn the ignition on and when try to start it, upon my answers to his questions he said the problem might be with battery and it need to jump start.

If I do jump start, whether battery will be charged automatically (car was standing on the place not more than 24 hours) or I have to replace the battery to sort this out my daily running is 80km so I dont think battery should be drained so quick?? or is this problem is different than battery problem? I havent called them to jump start yet, will be calling them up in the morning.

Thanks

EDIT: I haven't missed any service as recommended by the Hyundai, also did the paid servicing on time with only HASS so hoping they have been checking battery during servicing.

it seems like a rat has cut an important wire in the hood. same happened to my corsa.

it could be the solenoiid switch as was in my case few years back. But thhe car will start sometimes. Did you face any starting problems in past? Must be a simple electric problem of solenoid.

If you call the HASS they will send guys to get it repaird (Roadside breakdown assistance).

Thanks Arun, I never ever faced any starting problem before to addition all electrical components were working as healthy. Can we suspect the heavy rain that might have created any trouble? Today morning I again tried to start my car but it did not I did not hear starter's sound, all lights goes dim when trying to start (same as last night)

I called up HASS last night and the guy told me the problem is with the battery and he gave me exide's contact no.

I called up Exide road service to jump start but they said their van is having problem and they cannot come until 2PM, I am surprised with their service. I think I will have to check with some local garage to get it jump start and will take the battery to some exide dealer to have check.

@antonykf, thanks.. but then none other electrical equipment should have worked. Since electrical equipments are responding but with less power. I dont think any wire cut down problem in this case.

If all lights are going dim then I too suppose the battery does not have enough power to start the vehicle. Get the battery charged and you should fine. Probably last nights rain did the damage

Or the alternator is weak/failed, if all electrical connections and wiring seems fine.

Or a loose connection might be the culprit. Light coming and going in music system, head lights glowing, etc. And due to loose connection, the battery finally gave up. And ofcourse rains could be the culprit as they might have short-circuit battery connections henc making it weak. Get the terminals cleaned and battery charged. Am sure problem is gone.

Instead of going to local garage I called up Hyundai road side assitance and the guy told he wil come at 12noon.

Hyundai road side assitance service guy came @12:00PM as promised and checked the car, alternator which I was suspecting but all was ok so he jump started the car, I took the car to exide dealer and  found there is no power in the battery though I drove the car for about 12-13km after jump start (after idling at my place for about 10mins). When I stopped the car at Exide dealers place I turned off the engine and tried to start it again thinking that it may start at least once as I drove it considerable distance but nothing happened no responce from teh starter.

Dealer tested with miltimeter it read 12.9V after taking it out from the hood, all cell's were tested for density of water and each was below warning level but when he shorted +ve and -ve (with a piece of wire) there was no responce from the battery, it did not sparked at all.. as per him if battery is ok then there should be spark at least small sparks but there was nothing (all tests conducted in front of me). He suggested we can give a try of recharging battery but it will of no use as there might be some internal problem in battery which is not completing the circuit. I didn't want to take a chance so I replaced it. Got new Exide battery with 36months warranty (2+1) for 3.8k (he deducted 300 of my old battery), I actually wanted to get the Amaron but as my car needed jump start again I got the Exide from there itself It was emergency so had to take decision

I forgot to check the new battery by shorting its +ve and -ve with the same wire that he used for my old battery just to ensure if I was not foolled by him. After replacing the battery, all electrical components are working perfect as before, I am atleast happy to see those things back to normal again  

Thanks everyone for your inputs and views because of that I got all above checks done prior to replacing my battery, ensured the rest other things are ok apart from battery.

Don't short battery terminals (especially if you're just going to copy the mechanic) - the battery is quite capable of delivering a whopping 200+ amps for short durations, enough to cause big fat spark and fire.

one more thing. AFAIK if you short the battery terminals it will immediately discharge leaving you in the same situation as you were before . So dont attempt it