Popped down to check the Corolla over ready for tomorrow. Oil level was OK, and such other bits beneath the bonnet as I know the purpose of seemed to be in their appointed places and at their appointed levels, so I set out to do the tyre pressures. As I do this using an electric pump powered from the car, I decided to start the engine to prevent too much drain on the battery, just in case - but it wouldn't start! Turned the key, there was a click and all the lights on the dashboard came on the way they do, but nothing past that, six times in a row 
I thought it possible the battery was partially drained as, unlike some cars, that doesn't seem to crank the starter motor slowly but just doesn't crank it at all. So I came up for the little booster pack batteries. I knew where they were, but I haven't used them in years so I thought they might need a charge - except they have the USB socket that's almost never used anywhere, and I haven't seen my lead that fits them since I don't know when but probably back at the old place
So then I spent ages looking for the lead, finding all kinds of other leads but not the special one. Finally, I decided to take them both down on the off chance one of them held enough charge.
Naturally, before faffing around, I tried starting the car again - and it fired into life first turn of the key, no sign of struggling, ran absolutely fine
So I have no idea what was going on. Anyway, I got all the tyres back to nominal pressure, and just in case I took it for a quick drive around the neighbourhood so it was full warmed up and, hopefully, well-charged for tomorrow
It occasionally does that click-but-no-starting thing but always fires up on the second or third go. This is the first time it's just done nothing for six tries. Maybe it's because it's quite damp out, and letting damp air into the engine bay when I was checking the oil affected it somehow, then it dried out during the twenty minutes or so I was up here with the bonnet shut again? I don't have a clue TBH
I thought it possible the battery was partially drained as, unlike some cars, that doesn't seem to crank the starter motor slowly but just doesn't crank it at all. So I came up for the little booster pack batteries. I knew where they were, but I haven't used them in years so I thought they might need a charge - except they have the USB socket that's almost never used anywhere, and I haven't seen my lead that fits them since I don't know when but probably back at the old place
So then I spent ages looking for the lead, finding all kinds of other leads but not the special one. Finally, I decided to take them both down on the off chance one of them held enough charge.
Naturally, before faffing around, I tried starting the car again - and it fired into life first turn of the key, no sign of struggling, ran absolutely fine
So I have no idea what was going on. Anyway, I got all the tyres back to nominal pressure, and just in case I took it for a quick drive around the neighbourhood so it was full warmed up and, hopefully, well-charged for tomorrow
It occasionally does that click-but-no-starting thing but always fires up on the second or third go. This is the first time it's just done nothing for six tries. Maybe it's because it's quite damp out, and letting damp air into the engine bay when I was checking the oil affected it somehow, then it dried out during the twenty minutes or so I was up here with the bonnet shut again? I don't have a clue TBH
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