Dealing with upset child.

It sounds as though your daughter is quite young? If she isn't old enough to understand some of the noises that the car makes, you could just tell her it is 'coughing' until it gets started.

Now, onto the car itself - what make, model and age is it? Is it just cranking and not starting, but sounds normal, or does it sound different? The very, very first thing to do is to get a jerrycan of petrol in it, charge the battery up (or get a jump start) and see if that changes anything.

It is unlikely that it is cam belt failure, as there would have been one hell of a bang when it let go, however it is possible for the timing to have jumped if the belt is worn - @Sheal is correct that under these circumstances, there can be valve & piston contact, so this is why you listen for nasty noises stopping if you hear any. In reality, if the timing belt has snapped and you have been cranking the car, the damage would be done by now. However, the chances of this being the problem is highly, highly unlikely.

More info needed, and maybe we can help.

 

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It's a thing that happens many times on GC, in specifically named subject posts, Noisette.......and I'm sometimes guilty of straying off subject. But GG has, in this case, chosen the right section as all subjects go into here. The Off Topic section is where other subjects can be talked, discussed about, which allows members to side step the main subject thrust of GC, and widens the interest and gives members to give advice, compassion and help when someone is experiencing the "ups and downs" of Life and Family............Mug of Tea and a sit on the Patio anyone??

 

That is beyond rare @Sheal - in your case, the timing belt must have let go on the start cycle, and right at the start of the start cycle, hence no interference between pistons and valves (assuming of course that it was an interference engine). If the engine had been running, even very briefly, when it let go it would have been a whole different story.

There are some engines that are not interference engines, but they are very uncommon - on these, if the belt snaps it is inconvenient but not major; at one time, Ford were known as the worst for interference engines having belt failures - I was warned when I bought my Sierra (donkeys years ago!) to get the cambelt replaced religiously, because if you don't and it goes, the engine will "turn itself into a mangled metal sculpture"

 

A fluke so rare it is on the scale of winning the lottery.

PS - I got your email, and will respond later in the week. Battling off one hell of a chest infection at the minute, so doing everything including internet in small bursts.

 

Currently without a voice (not that I need that for email) so the bright side is that Mrs C has peace!

 

So abnormal is normal for you. I understand that

 

When did I ever conform?