Starter Motor Problem, It Won,t Start - 2.5 V6 Auto

[TAM HOBBS]

2.5 PETROL AUTO CONNISEUR. Had starting problems, like cranking it for 5 seconds two or three times before it would start. Yesterday car would not start and drained the battery, charged it over night and tried this morning and I am getting an awfull sound when I try to start it, like a set of cutlery in a tumble drier. I sounds as if it is comming from the drivers side. I was thinking that the starter motor was loose but I cannot find the starter motor or see anything wrong. ANY SUGGESTIONS OR ADVICE will be greatly appreciated.
DAFT TAM

[miketata]

original starting problem could be fuel filter ...do a search ..common fault.

[TAM HOBBS]

I am convinced it is not a fuel problem as I can smell the petrol when trying to start. It may not be related but I am getting blue smoke even when the engine is warm and I think it smells of petrol.
DAFT TAM

[Tatts]

You can spend time, effort & money investigating allsorts.

However, as mike said, the intank fuel filter/module is a well known fault that causes non-starting problems. It's happened to me and many other owners.

You will smell fuel, but there's not enough for the engine to start.

[TAM HOBBS]

Thanks Tatts & Miktata
Am I assuming from your responce that the filter you are talking about is in the fuel tank. It seems a bit drastic, surely the fuel filter is not in the tank.
point me in the right diretion?
DAFT TAM

[Tatts]

As Mike said, do a Search, or look in the Members How To's.

[TAM HOBBS]

Thanks everybody, fully charged the battery and it solved all my problems. It seems my short journey (2 miles) to work and back was not putting the charge I used to start the car back into the battery. It also explains my low MPG.
DAFT TAM