2002 s cooper will not start. Unable to jump start or clutch start on a hill. Do I need a new battery? Why no start on a hill. Is a good battery needed in order to get any start? In the past a car was not able to do a hill start if it had an alternator and bad battery because a good electrical loop must be maintained. md80

 

We need more information. Are you getting spark? Fuel? I've never tried to hill start my MCS, i'm sure it can be done though. I recall someone else on here saying they did it.

 

Zero, nada, nothing . So, if battery is no good, do I need a good one to complete electrical system loop?

 

Well, you're approaching the time where you may need a new battery, but that doesn't explain the hill start not working. When you turn the key does it crank at all?

 

Nope

 

Do any of the interior lights come on? Radio? You may have a short in your battery terminal... if your ECU has no power, you won't be able to start the car. (at least in my other cars)

 

No electrical @ all. A short in my battery terminal? Would that be the same as a totally dead cell in the battery?