306 starting

[froggy]

Hi, my wifes 306. we changed the battery last week, thinking the battery was duff! The car has let my wife down twice, the car does'nt seem to engage with the starter. all the lights come on the dash but it does'nt engage. my wife waits a few minutes , tries the car and it starts!!!! anyone got any ideas , cheers Terry.

[picassodad]

306, petrol, diesel, year, automatic ?

On initial trying to start the engine, key in start position, any clicking noise ?

In the start position, do the dash lights dim a bit ?

Are you confident using a multimeter and working under the bonnet ?

Find the starter motor, when key in start position, give the starter motor a tap with a small ( small hammer ) hammer or similar, did it work ?

[froggy]

it's a 1.4 petrol. the lights on the dash stay bright.

[picassodad]

Did you give the starter a tap when ign in start position ?

[moizeau]

When you say 'it doesn't engage the starter' do you mean the starter spins but doesn't engage the flywheel, the starter solenoid clicks but doesn't engage the starter, the fuse board clicks but the starter solenoid doesn't or finally...nothing happens at all?
Depending on the answer, various simple tests can be done.