Not starting trouble again
Discussion
Im having problems with my 1999 5 Litre not starting after driving then stopping (to get gas or whatever). I took the car to David Batty at the Garage and he replaced the starter motor due to the usual hot starting thing.
Unfortunately this seems to have made no difference. On a recent trip to Italy in the car, this problem continued and drove us mad. What is stranger is that sometimes the car would start again after 10 mins, and sometimes it would take up to 30 mins.
The car has a Simba anti-hijack alarm fitted (with immobiliser) by the previous owner, and Im wondering if that could be the culprit, because it is almost as if the following happens:
1. If you try to start the car within 10 minutes of the stoppage it wont start.
2. If you do try to start the car within that 10 minutes, it seems to take at least another 10 minutes to start since you last tried. Hence why sometimes it took 30 minutes to start because perhaps I was being too impatient.
Has anyone had issues with these alarms? Any other suggestions???
Cheers!
Unfortunately this seems to have made no difference. On a recent trip to Italy in the car, this problem continued and drove us mad. What is stranger is that sometimes the car would start again after 10 mins, and sometimes it would take up to 30 mins.
The car has a Simba anti-hijack alarm fitted (with immobiliser) by the previous owner, and Im wondering if that could be the culprit, because it is almost as if the following happens:
1. If you try to start the car within 10 minutes of the stoppage it wont start.
2. If you do try to start the car within that 10 minutes, it seems to take at least another 10 minutes to start since you last tried. Hence why sometimes it took 30 minutes to start because perhaps I was being too impatient.
Has anyone had issues with these alarms? Any other suggestions???
Cheers!
Unfortunately you've likely shelled out for a new starter motor for no good reason.
Email David Beer at djbeer@btinternet.com and get a warm-start kit.
The wire to the solenoid is too thin, it gets hot, resistance rises, can't supply the current needed.
The warm start kit cuts into that wire which then switches a relay - the relay gets its 12V straight off the battery, and the problem is consigned to history.
Its a design fault.
Email David Beer at djbeer@btinternet.com and get a warm-start kit.
The wire to the solenoid is too thin, it gets hot, resistance rises, can't supply the current needed.
The warm start kit cuts into that wire which then switches a relay - the relay gets its 12V straight off the battery, and the problem is consigned to history.
Its a design fault.
Never entirely understood this hot start problem that people seem to get as I've never had this problem myself.
Can someone explain what the full symptoms are ie does the starter turn - does it just click - does it turn too slowly or what?
Presumably if you get nothing at all ie no fuel pump whirring etc then it is more likely to be an immobiliser problem and nothing to do with dodgy thin wires going to the starter.
Nick
Can someone explain what the full symptoms are ie does the starter turn - does it just click - does it turn too slowly or what?
Presumably if you get nothing at all ie no fuel pump whirring etc then it is more likely to be an immobiliser problem and nothing to do with dodgy thin wires going to the starter.
Nick
You need to confirm it’s not the starter motor but the starter circuit or immobiliser. To do this get the car up on ramp’s jack and stand’s will do get the engine hot and try to repeat the problem.
When it wont start switch off the ignition, go underneath with big screwdriver and very carefully short across the big red lead on the starter to the exposed terminal on solenoid. Be very careful you only need to quickly touch across to see if it engages don’t attempt to fire it up. You can do allsorts of damage if you short the red cable to earth or any thing else for that mater. If it works it makes a lot of noise, sparks a bit and will make you jump so again take care, but you know it’s not the motor.
I’m not familiar with your system and I’m not sure if David’s kit will work, call him. The kit adds a relay into the starter circuit. If you can track the solenoid wire back into the foot well you can do the same. If this dost fix it then it’s likely to be your Immobiliser and for that I’ve no idea.
Be brave but go careful,
Simon.
When it wont start switch off the ignition, go underneath with big screwdriver and very carefully short across the big red lead on the starter to the exposed terminal on solenoid. Be very careful you only need to quickly touch across to see if it engages don’t attempt to fire it up. You can do allsorts of damage if you short the red cable to earth or any thing else for that mater. If it works it makes a lot of noise, sparks a bit and will make you jump so again take care, but you know it’s not the motor.
I’m not familiar with your system and I’m not sure if David’s kit will work, call him. The kit adds a relay into the starter circuit. If you can track the solenoid wire back into the foot well you can do the same. If this dost fix it then it’s likely to be your Immobiliser and for that I’ve no idea.
Be brave but go careful,
Simon.
Nick,
I've never had the hot-start problem on my 99 Chim until this year, and even then I wouldn't say it was a scorching day. I can hear the fuel pump prime then absolutely nothing happens when I turn the key. If I turn the key when the fuel pump is priming, I can hear it slow down slightly (current is being drawn).
I've got the mod-wise kit, but not got round to fitting it yet. David Beer suggested that since the current/voltage to the solenoid is poor, the contacts degrade over time due to arcing. Might explain my faultless hot starts until now.
Fingers crossed,
Jonathan
I've never had the hot-start problem on my 99 Chim until this year, and even then I wouldn't say it was a scorching day. I can hear the fuel pump prime then absolutely nothing happens when I turn the key. If I turn the key when the fuel pump is priming, I can hear it slow down slightly (current is being drawn).
I've got the mod-wise kit, but not got round to fitting it yet. David Beer suggested that since the current/voltage to the solenoid is poor, the contacts degrade over time due to arcing. Might explain my faultless hot starts until now.
Fingers crossed,
Jonathan
The wire from the ignition switch to the immobiliser, back and forth is too "weak". In the footwell it joins to the Range Rover wire which is fine from there to the solenoid, so popping a relay in at this point is all that is needed. I do hear of someone rewiring the whole system, waste of money. £4 if you DIY , could be £1.50 if you wish to try a cheap relay.
Hi All,
I have successfully installed David's bit of kit. It probably took me about 30 mins to install, but most of this was just fiddling around with the battery nuts and bolts! The kit itself is very easy to install even for a non-mechanical/electrical person like myself.
I am yet to go on a long trip, but am scheduled to go on one on Monday, so I will report back next week to let you know what the results are...
Thanks to all who posted ideas.
I have successfully installed David's bit of kit. It probably took me about 30 mins to install, but most of this was just fiddling around with the battery nuts and bolts! The kit itself is very easy to install even for a non-mechanical/electrical person like myself.
I am yet to go on a long trip, but am scheduled to go on one on Monday, so I will report back next week to let you know what the results are...
Thanks to all who posted ideas.
FIXED!
Thats it, David Beer is a genius! Went for a 1 hour drive to work today as per usual, got there, switched off the engine. Waited 5 seconds and then turned the key again and... HOORAY! All starting brilliantly.
Before this mod it would ALWAYS take at least 10 mins.
I cannot recommend this mod enough to people... Cheers David!
Thats it, David Beer is a genius! Went for a 1 hour drive to work today as per usual, got there, switched off the engine. Waited 5 seconds and then turned the key again and... HOORAY! All starting brilliantly.
Before this mod it would ALWAYS take at least 10 mins.
I cannot recommend this mod enough to people... Cheers David!
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