Mysterious failure to start

From: Peter Bristow
email: peterjbristow@dsl.pipex.co.uk
Date: 07 May 2006
Time: 04:34

Message

My Gamma, a series II injected car, is normally an excellent starter, firing on the first turn of the key. But yesterday it refused to start after I had turned it off while opening up the garage to put it away after returning from the Italian Car day at the Ace Cafe. Turning the key only prompted some distant whirring noises - the fuel injecting system powering up? Nothing was happening at the starter motor. The car had done this once before, in similar circumstances - i.e. after a long, slow, journey home through London traffic. Last time it re-started as if nothing had happened after being left for an hour or so. This time a neighbour helped push the car into the garage and it duly started first time when I tried it this morning. My assumption (based on no electrical knowledge whatsoever!) is that some electrical component in the engine bay is just getting too hot to work properly and so no power is going to the starter motor - but do any of you technically minded chaps out there have any idea what might be at fault? Any suggestions gratefully received!