Van won't start: what now?

Listen to what happens when you turn the key

Turning over means the starter is rotating the engine. If you hear only a click or a slow, laboured movement, the battery, its connections or the starter circuit may be involved. Dashboard lights can still illuminate when the battery cannot supply enough current to start the engine. If the engine spins at its usual speed without firing, the garage needs to consider fuel delivery, engine management and the engine's mechanical condition. An unusually fast or uneven cranking sound can also matter. Describe what you hear rather than repeatedly trying the key. Searches such as Mitsubishi L200 won't start or VW Transporter T6 turning over but not starting can bring up many possible causes. Different engines and starting systems need different tests, so match any advice to the actual vehicle and its handbook. A symptom shared with another owner's van does not establish the same fault.

Details that help narrow it down

• The starter is silent, clicks or rotates slowly. Note which of these happens and whether the dashboard lights dim sharply during an attempt; avoid repeated attempts to demonstrate it.
• The engine turns at normal speed without starting. Record any warning message, immobiliser symbol or unusual sound and whether the problem appeared with a hot or cold engine.
• The van starts briefly and then stops. Tell the garage how long it runs and whether this happens every time, as that is a different symptom from no cranking.
• The fault followed a particular event. Mention recent work, a long period parked, a fuel stop or a breakdown during use, and provide any existing repair paperwork.

Turning over without firing

An engine needs the right conditions for combustion, including fuel and compression. On a diesel, cold-start equipment can affect starting, but glow plugs are only one possibility. Fuel pressure, sensors or the immobiliser can also prevent an engine from firing. A garage can use diagnostic information alongside electrical and mechanical tests to narrow the cause. Tell it if the van ran out of fuel, stopped during a journey or became difficult to start after maintenance. If you put in the wrong fuel, avoid further starting attempts and get professional advice. Repeated cranking can flatten the battery and leave an extra problem alongside the original fault. A van that stopped with a bang, an oil-pressure warning or a sudden change in engine sound needs particular care. Keep it switched off until a mechanic advises what to do.

Repair routes for a non-starter

If the van is stranded in an unsafe place, deal with your immediate safety and contact a recovery professional. Do not attempt roadside work in traffic. A van parked safely at home can remain there while you seek advice. You do not need to make it start to ask us about selling it.

Keep it or sell it as it stands?

Once the cause is known, consider the repair alongside the condition of the rest of the van. A discharged battery on a van you otherwise want to keep is a different decision from internal engine damage on one with other major faults. Ask for the total estimate, the expected time without the van and any further work the garage cannot yet price. If a garage is holding the van, ask it about any charges already incurred before you choose a collection date. Compare a valuation in its present condition with the repair route, without assuming that a non-starter has only scrap value. Vandervan buys non-runners and collects free from home, work or a garage. Payment is on collection day, before the van is loaded. You can make that comparison while the van remains switched off.

Questions