Compare Alfa Romeo 159 car start repair quotes from specialist garages

Alfa Romeo is a quintessentially Italian carmaker known for the style and elegance of its sporty vehicles. In a 2008 episode of Top Gear, Hammond, Clarkson and May set out to prove that you can't be a proper petrolhead until you've owned an Alfa. The brand's iconic status also stretches beyond the small screen, with its cars appearing in a slew of blockbusters, including The Godfather, The Graduate, Octopussy and The Talented Mr Ripley.

At the 2022 Autocar Awards, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio was named a future classic, earning praise for being "sublime to drive and beautiful to look at" - a statement that perfectly captures the spirit of the brand.

Cars struggle to start for many reasons, making it hard to diagnose what's wrong. A dead battery is the most common cause; if this is the case, the engine should still turn over but won't get going unless you give it a jump start or use a battery charger. This guide explains how to change a car battery.

Other possible explanations include a faulty starter motor, clogged fuel injectors, a faulty - rather than flat - battery, issues with the alternator, a flooded engine, a jammed ignition lock and engine intake problems.

If a flooded engine is why your car won't start, you might not need to book a repair. Find out how to start a car with a flooded engine here.

Fortunately, the above issues can often be diagnosed and fixed by a mobile mechanic, so towing your car to a garage is unnecessary.