Hello, My car has power for all the accessories (radio etc) but when I turn the key it literally dies (clock resets) and therefore will not start. I put a multimeter on the battery and I noticed when I turn the key the voltage goes from about 12v all the way down to 3v. Does this sound like the battery is most likely the culprit of the issues? Thanks
Voltage test on a battery doesn't always show if the battery is good for cranking power, cars today require a lot of power just to start and batteries have a habit of just failing. Try jump starting it and put a volt meter on to the battery when running, it should be around 14 volts, this will tell you the alternator is good.
Okay thanks. Just to check - if I jump it and the voltage is around 14 I know the alternator is okay and it is just the battery which is at fault?
Almost certainly. Out of interest when was it last running and you haven't accidentally left any lights on, including glovebox light,
Hey - nope no lights on. Over the last three months has randomly died when starting (clock reset - as if I had competely drained the car) about 3 times. Then it would magically start with zero issues. Today I was driving it fine for about 15 miles. Suddenly it won't start at all.
Before you buy a battery, pop to Halfords and ask them to test it, you don't have to buy from them (way cheaper out there), but at leastnuoull know if it is the battey, from what you have said it could be as said above a bad earth connection.
Alternator check above. How can a faulty starter drain the battery, its dead until called for by the ignition via the solenoid.
Yes, a short in the starter(when ignition turned). Especially if the battery recovers to run other electrics.