Hello,

I recently purchased a 2004 Peugeot 307SW (1.6 petrol) but in the 2 months we've had it there have been 5 or 6 occasions when it wouldn't start - Turn the key and simply nothing happens. There have also been countless other occasions when it has started but only on the 2nd or 3rd twist of the key (note: no turn-over on the first attempts - nothing at all - but then suddenly life).

On the occasions when the car has refused to start itself, then jumping or bumping has got it started on the first attempt.

The garage we bought from gave us a 3 month warranty so we've had it back to them a few times to look at. They say the battery is good, that the alternator is charging and can't see a reason why it should be acting as it is. On last visit they claimed to have tightened a belt that was a little loose - though i don't know if this was simply to placate me. (I told them that my brother-in-law heard our engine and said he could hear it "tweeting" and that might be a belt slipping)

The car is mainly used for short journeys (1-3 miles), so i did wonder if that might be resulting in the battery not charging properly but then one morning it didn't start was less than 12 hours after we'd just completed a long motorway journey. Similarly, i originally assumed the cold might be a problem but the vehicle sat outside under all the recent snow - not moving for a week - and then fired up first time when we finally came to use it. That the problem is so unpredictable is more of a pain than anything else - it means my wife is scared to take the kids out in it.

I am assuming it is a battery / alternator issue but then i'm no expert when it comes to these matters so wondered if someone here might be able to suggest another possible cause?

Would a new battery be worth a shot? Insist that the garage replace the alternator under the warranty? Something else?

Many thanks in advance.

Edited by sallonoroff on 15/12/2010 at 13:23