Car won’t start · Autobedrijf Willemsbrug Rotterdam

Car won’t start? We find the cause and repair your car

Your car won’t start, only clicks, or turns over without firing? We find the cause: the battery, the starter motor, the alternator or something else. Cars that won’t start get priority. You hear the price in advance.

4.8 / 5 from 235 reviews | All makes | Price agreed in advance

The short answer

If your car won’t start, it is usually down to the battery, the starter motor, the key or the fuel. Autobedrijf Willemsbrug at Boterdiep 11 in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde tests the battery, the starter motor and the alternator, reads the fault codes and gives cars that won’t start priority. You hear in advance what the repair costs. We only start once you agree, also if extra work turns out to be needed.

Jump to: what you hear · causes and solutions · frequently asked questions · directions

What do you hear when you start the car?

What you hear or see when you start the car often says a lot about the cause:

  • Fast ticking or rattling, the engine does not turn
  • One loud click and nothing else
  • The engine turns over very slowly
  • The engine turns over well but does not fire
  • Nothing at all, the dashboard stays dark
  • A flashing key symbol on the dashboard

Do not keep trying to start for too long in one go. Try a few short attempts at most and wait in between. Otherwise the battery goes completely flat and the starter motor can overheat. Read what to do in case of a breakdown.

How your car starts

When you start the car, the battery sends a large current to the starter motor. The starter motor turns the engine over until it runs on its own. After that, the alternator charges the battery again.

The car only starts if it recognises the key. For this, there is a chip in the key. On a diesel, the glow plugs help the engine fire properly in the cold. Many hybrid cars have no separate starter motor. There, the electric motor starts the combustion engine.

If one of these parts does not work properly, the car won’t start. That is why we test first, before we replace anything.

What we do when your car won’t start

  • Test the battery under load
  • Check the battery terminals and cables
  • Test the starter motor and the starter relay
  • Measure the alternator’s charging voltage
  • Look for anything that keeps drawing power when the car is switched off
  • Read the fault codes if the engine does not fire

Extra work is only done with your approval.

What you hear, the possible cause and what you can do

This table shows which symptom often goes with which cause. We only know what is really going on once we have taken measurements.

What you hear or see, and what it can mean
What you hear or see Possible cause What you or we do
You hear fast ticking or rattling, the engine does not turn The battery is too weak Jump-start or charge. Then test the battery, the alternator and the charging system
One loud click, the engine does not turn over The starter motor, the starter relay or a poor battery cable connection Test the starter motor and cables. Repair or replace the starter motor
Nothing happens at all, the dashboard stays dark Flat battery, loose battery terminal or a main fuse Check the battery and connections
The engine turns over well but does not fire Fuel, ignition, a sensor or, on a diesel, the glow plugs Read the fault codes and test
Key symbol flashes or the car does not recognise the key The immobiliser does not recognise the chip in the key Try the spare key first. Then read the fault codes
The key will not turn in the ignition The steering lock is engaged Move the steering wheel gently back and forth while you turn the key
Starts after a jump-start, but not again the next morning Worn battery, an alternator that is not charging or something that keeps drawing power Test the battery, measure the charging voltage and look for a power drain
Hybrid or electric car does not get to “ready” Often the 12-volt battery Test the 12-volt battery and read the fault codes

Battery and alternator

A weak battery is the best-known cause. According to the ANWB, its roadside assistance service (Wegenwacht) helped with 337,000 battery problems in 2025. Does your car start after a jump-start, but not again the next day? Then the battery is worn, the alternator is not charging properly or something draws power while the car is switched off. We test all of it. Read more about testing and replacing the battery and about the alternator and the battery warning light.

Starter motor

Do you hear one loud click and the engine does not turn, while the battery is fine? Then the starter motor may be faulty. According to the ANWB, a new starter motor for an average car costs about € 300 and a reconditioned one about € 200. That is a guide figure, not a quote from us. We repair starter motors in our own workshop. Read more about starter motor replacement in Rotterdam.

We work on all makes and models, including hybrid and electric cars. You are also welcome with a van or motorhome up to 3,500 kg. Our mechanics hold the GMTO certificate (the Dutch qualification for working on high-voltage systems), so they can work on hybrid and electric cars.

Why we measure first

A car that won’t start often gets a new battery first. If the battery is not the cause, a new battery does not solve the problem. That is why we first test the battery, the starter motor and the alternator. Then you hear what is wrong, what it costs and how long it takes.

Our repairs come with a warranty. When you get the quote, you hear which warranty applies. Does the car start but then hesitate or stall? Then read more about a car that hesitates or stalls. Is there a light on the dashboard after starting? Then read more about the engine warning light and car diagnostics (in Dutch).

Frequently asked questions when your car won’t start

No need to click. All the answers are already open below.

Why won’t my car start?

Usually it is the battery. According to the ANWB, the battery was the biggest cause of breakdowns in petrol and diesel cars in 2025. Other causes are the starter motor, a key that is not recognised, the fuel or the ignition. Listen to what you hear when you start the car. Fast ticking often points to a weak battery. One loud click can point to the starter motor. We find the cause and you hear the price in advance.

My car clicks but won’t start. What is wrong?

If you hear fast ticking or rattling, the battery is often too weak. The lights and radio may still work. If you hear one loud click and the engine does not turn, the starter motor or the starter relay may be faulty. A loose or dirty battery terminal can also be the cause. We test it and tell you what is needed.

The engine turns over but does not fire. What now?

Then the starter motor is working and the cause is usually somewhere else, for example the fuel, the ignition, a sensor or, on a diesel, the glow plugs. Do not keep trying to start for too long in one go, because the battery will go flat. We read the fault codes and test the system.

Can I jump-start the car myself with jump leads?

Yes. That often works if the battery is too weak. Follow your car’s manual, because it tells you how and where to connect the leads. Different rules sometimes apply to a hybrid or electric car. If the car still won’t start after a jump-start, according to the ANWB it is often the starter motor. Did your car need a jump-start? Then have the battery and charging tested, because the car often won’t start again the next morning.

How do I know whether it is the battery or the starter motor?

A weak battery often gives fast ticking or an engine that turns over very slowly. If a jump-start works, it is usually the battery. If the car won’t start even with a jump-start and you only hear a click, it may be the starter motor. You only know for sure after a test. We test the battery, the starter motor and the alternator.

Why does my car start badly when it is cold?

In the cold, a battery delivers less power, while the starter motor needs more power, because the oil is thicker. A battery that was barely enough in summer then falls short. On a diesel, the glow plugs help the engine get going in the cold. If they do not work properly, the diesel is hard to start. On a diesel, wait until the glow plug light goes out before you start. Read more about a diesel that starts badly.

My car won’t start at home. Can you come out to me?

No. We do not come out and we do not have our own tow truck. Call your breakdown service. If they cannot start the car on the spot, have the car brought to us. Outside opening hours, the breakdown service can park the car in front of our garage at your own risk if there is space. Put the key in an envelope in our letterbox, with your name, phone number, registration number and what is wrong. Read how this works in case of a breakdown.

My hybrid or electric car won’t start. Can you help?

Yes. According to the ANWB, breakdowns in electric cars in 2025 were mainly down to flat tyres and the 12-volt battery. That small battery switches the system on. If it is weak, the car does not get to “ready”. Our mechanics hold the GMTO certificate (the Dutch qualification for working on high-voltage systems) for work on hybrid and electric cars. Read more about testing and replacing the battery.

Have your car checked in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde

You will find us at Boterdiep 11 (3077 AW) in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, close to Stadion Feijenoord (De Kuip) and exit 24 Rotterdam-Feijenoord on the A16. The A15 is five minutes’ drive away. There is free parking outside if there is space. The Stadion Feijenoord tram stop (line 3) is close by.

We are also easy to reach from Barendrecht, Ridderkerk, Capelle aan den IJssel, Krimpen aan den IJssel, Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht and Zwijndrecht. Appointments are made by phone.

Plan your route to Boterdiep 11 or see our contact page.

Opening hours
Monday to Friday: 8.00 to 17.30
Saturday: 9.00 to 15.00
Sunday: closed
We are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Car won’t start?

Call us during opening hours with your registration number. You drop the car off Monday to Friday between 8.00 and 8.30 am, or on Saturday at 9.00 am. You will hear the cost in advance and we only start once you agree.

Our score: 4.8 / 5 from 235 reviews. Read what our customers say (in Dutch).

Also see our pages about car battery testing, starter motor replacement, the battery warning light and the alternator, a diesel that is hard to start, breakdowns and car diagnostics (in Dutch).

Nederlands? Deze pagina is er ook in het Nederlands.