Are you having trouble starting your vehicle? Not sure whats causing the problem? First things first. Never poke around inside the engine bay with the engine running! I know it seems obvious but those spinny things in there can do you a lot of damage. Even experienced mechanics sometimes make mistakes, i.e. trying to check the fan belt tension with the engine running. ( I should know, I've almost done it) If possible, do the testing yourself, if someone helps, they may start the engine while you've got your hands in there. I've lost count of the times i've nearly been run over by someone trying to start the car while its still in gear!

What are your symptoms? Is the engine turning over slowly? not turning over at all?

Turning over slowly? - Turn on the vehicles interior light and crank engine. Does the interior light dim significantly? If so, your battery may be flat or faulty. Light doesnt dim- your starter motor may be faulty. These arent hard and fast checks, but they will give you a starting point.

Not turning over at all? Your battery may be so flat that the starter doesnt operate at all. Do the interior light light check to give you some idea of the battery's condition. Got a Landrover Discovery TD5? or a Toyota? Starter just clicking? I hate to tell you but the starters faulty (psst! Want to know a secret? Its easy and cheap to fix yourself! err! once you've got the starter off that is!)

With engine stopped, check your fan belt tension and condition. You may not believe it but I still see non starting vehicles that have completely lost their fan belts! If you can see your alternator pulley, does it look a rusty pink colour? This can be a sign that the belt has been slipping. Slipping belts are much more common on earlier vehicles fitted with a "V" Type fan belt. On vehicles such as earlier Ford Transits, Mitsubishi Pajeros, Shogun's etc the fan belt has to be pretty tight or they will slip, but beware of overtightening. Use your nose! I've sometimes told customers about a slipping belt before theyve even lifted the bonnet! Not supernatural powers, just a pungent smell of hot rubber! Later vehicles tend to have flat "Poly Vee" belts which are very often self tensioning and so dont tend to suffer from slipping- but, in common with all types of belt, they dont like being covered in diesel or oil. 

Got an earlier type of Astra (Petrol or GM diesel?) The alternators on these vehicles are rubber mounted on the engine and very often suffer from bad earths. If you suspect the alternator earth, run in a new one from a strut suspension nut straight to the alternators belt tensioning bolt. -

More to come! Check out my e bay shop - Tempusangel