Start with the clicks
Turn the key and listen:
- Rapid clicking, dash lights dim — almost always the battery. A jump start or $150–$250 replacement likely fixes it.
- Single solid click — starter motor. A $300–$700 repair on most cars.
- Nothing at all, no lights — battery terminals, main fuse, or a dead battery beyond recovery.
- Cranks strongly but never fires — fuel pump, timing belt or ignition fault. This is where bills grow.
The timing belt question
If the engine cranks faster than usual and sounds "flat", the timing belt may have snapped. On many engines that means bent valves and a $1,500–$4,000 repair — often more than the car is worth.
The maths that matters
Find the repair cost, then find your car's running value (check similar listings on Trade Me). If the repair is more than half the running value, the sensible move is usually to sell it as it sits.
Selling a non-runner
Non-starting cars are bought every day for parts and scrap — free tow, payment on pickup, no repairs needed. Get a quote before you spend on a diagnosis you may not use.