Somethings up - it wont start !!

[snuffy]

Can anybody shed any light as to why my Nob wont go ?

It's been on a trickle charger for a couple of weeks ( never had any problems since I bought it ). I got in it today, pressed the engine starter, it turned a couple of times and died. At first I thought it was flat ( which given the trickle charger would be odd ). I popped it on charge with a 6A charger for an hour it the green light on the charger said it was full.

But still nothing. The immobilser comes disengages ( i.e. the ignition light comes on when disarmed ), turn the key and the fuel pump primes. Then turn the key or press the button and all I hear is one small click and that's it.

I've checked all the fuses, including the 4 in the engine bay with a meter and they are all fine.

I've also tried rocking the car in gear incase the starter is jammed.

So, anybody have any ideas ?


Adrian

[Jenx]

Starter motor relay?

[snuffy]

My old man has suggested it could be a bad earth from the starter motor to the chassis which sounds pausable. I'm told a jump lead from teh motor case to the chassis will confirm if that is the case.

Starter motor relay - could be.

I'll check both in the morning and report back.

Edited by snuffy on Saturday 9th August 18:31

[F.C.]

Bad earth is a good call.
F.C.

[gadgeroonie]

unplug the ecu - clean up all the connectors with wd40 and replace

[JLSELAN]

Another possibility is that the battery may have an internal short and can appear to be charged (and show 12V on a voltmeter) but is nevertheless not capable of delivering enough current to start the motor. In that case, the only solution is to replace the battery with a new one.

Also--it is a very bad idea to leave a car battery on a trickle charger for an extended period of time. A battery tender that monitors charge and adjusts accordingly is OK, but delivering continuous charge over a long time is a not recommended.

Edited by JLSELAN on Sunday 10th August 03:13

[snuffy]

I'll have a look at the ecu.

When I said trickle charger I meant a battery conditioner. I have a CTEK one.

I tried a jump lead from the gearbox to the chassis to give an earth but no joy. I'll have look around the starter motor and see what I can find in the earthing dept.

[jetstream]

The ecu has no control over the cranking of the engine it could be unpluged and the car will still turn over. Sounds like battery, check the battery voltage as someone trys to crank to see if it drops that should tell you.

[sean_goodman]

does is jump start from another car? this will pretty much confirm if its dead battery

[ollygogs]

dead cell in the battary will still say fully charged put a test on the battary

[ollygogs]

dead cell in the battery will still say fully charged put a test on the battery

[snuffy]

Tried to jump start it - nothing.

Put an earth between the starter motor and the thing on the top ( which is connected by a very short earth wire ) and it almost started but not quite.

Having investigated it with a mate for an hour or two our conclusion is that the starter motor has is the problem. I'm hoping Chris Neals can collect it this week and have it fixed by the weekend so I can take it to Tatton Park.

[gadgeroonie]

will it bump start ok ?

sometimes tapping the starter with a hammer whilst someone cranks the car is enough to free it - it may have corroded

Edited by gadgeroonie on Sunday 10th August 21:17