V70 2.4d won't start at all, dash lights on ok
 

Volvo V70 2.4d automatic, 55 plate, 130k miles, recently serviced.
I'm stuck in the Lakes, broken down (thankfully) outside of the holiday accommodation near Kendal. The car won't start at all, hasn't done so since last Wednesday apart from once only.
When I put the key in, the lights appear on the dash, they go out as normal and then nothing. There is a faint click but not one that I would associate with the engine trying to start. There is also an extremely faint whirring tone if I keep turning-pressure on the key. The engine makes no attempt to kick over and there are no loud clicks.
I've taken it out of Park and into Drive and Reverse a few times as suggested in a previous post but that hasn't worked.
When the car did start (once, on Friday), this was after a few attempts and the engine did kick in. My OH moved the car a few yards and tried to rev the engine but it was running on very low revs and would not accellerate at all. As he didn't trust the car, he parked it up again and it has been here ever since. Each time I try to start it, nothing at all happens.
We are in the AA so will probably get them out tomorrow if we can't get anywhere with this, but even if so, any info on here would be extremely helpful. If the AA team can't get the car going, I'm not sure if it would be better to be towed home (Northumberland) or to have it taken to a good repairer / auto-electrician locally, but I don't know any here. Any tried and tested recommendations would be great!
Thank you for any advice you can offer please!
Janine

That sounds as though it could be something as simple as a failed battery. Have you tried getting someone with a set of jump leads to see if it starts when coupled to another car.

I would try this first before anything else. Failing that it could well be the starter motor.

Thanks, I'll try this again but I think that a neighbour already did this last week. The battery is only a year old and should be good to go.

I would because even though the battery is only 1 year old, it cannot be ruled out of the equation. They do sometimes fail and very quickly.

Checked - definitely not the battery, the neighbour also had a tester / volt meter and it was fine. (Cross-posting - thanks anyway!)

Detached/loose/poor connection of the trigger wire on the starter motor? or a stuck/sticking starter motor?When trying to start it what does the battery light on the dash do?Does it stay constant or does it dim?

From your description, definitely sounds like a battery problem, discharged or loose connections, even if it's only a year old there could be problems with the charging circuit so it goes flat quickly.
Otherwise loose connection at the starter motor or defective solenoid

As you are with the AA, call them out so they can pinpoint the problem, doesn't sound too serious to me but very frustration for you.
Keep us posted...

"It was fine" doesn't really tell us anything so what tests were done exactly and where were the meter probes placed?

Voltage drop tests on the live and ground side?
Battery voltage during cranking/attempted cranking?
Giving us a precise description of what's been done along with exact voltage readings and it will help us to give you further tests to carry out.

Thanks for all of your replies, they are appreciated.
Re the battery light, the battery light seems to remain constant on the first startup click of the key, then it goes out when the other lights go off on the dash as per normal. There is no indication that the battery is faulty or failing, from the dash symbols.
I'll have to check with the neighbour about exactly what he did. I wasn't there at the time so will ask. As far as I know, he has a battery tester and did his stuff with it, pronouncing that the battery was holding the charge and is in top condition, but that's all that I have been told. He used to work with diesel engines so must be reasonably competent at least.
Will be getting the AA out tomorrow and will report back about that too. Unfortunately, there is no mobile signal where we are so will have to walk up a nearby hill, which in itself isn't a problem but it will prevent me being able to carry out any tasks on the car that the AA phone operator suggests while on the phone. Why does life have to be so complicated?
Thanks again, Janine

no one seems to have picked up on the fact that the car was running on low revs when it did start, suggesting that it may be something else. if it was a battery problem, that would not cause the car to run rough, as you can usually remove a battery on a diesel once started!