Won't start - what next please?
Discussion
Hi
I have a starting problem on a 3R and advice would really be appreciated.
The car developed a starting problem last week (hardly turned over)and I just spent a happy
2 hours last night putting in a new battery which now seems fully charged - lights bright, indicators work and fuel pump on but the engine won't turn over at all.
So what should I try next?
Are there any connections, relays, fuses etc. from the ignition I should try before I get to the starter motor? (Where is the starter motor!)
Your thoughts please (and if you could tell me where to find any items that would be great too).
Thanks
Andrew
PS - Is it worth calling out AA Homestart?
I have a starting problem on a 3R and advice would really be appreciated.
The car developed a starting problem last week (hardly turned over)and I just spent a happy
2 hours last night putting in a new battery which now seems fully charged - lights bright, indicators work and fuel pump on but the engine won't turn over at all.So what should I try next?
Are there any connections, relays, fuses etc. from the ignition I should try before I get to the starter motor? (Where is the starter motor!)
Your thoughts please (and if you could tell me where to find any items that would be great too).
Thanks
Andrew
PS - Is it worth calling out AA Homestart?
If the battery is fine (ie lights come on OK and you hear the fuel pump when you switch the ignition on), try putting the car in gear and rocking the car back and forth a few times. If you have a stuck solenoid on the starter motor this usually is enough to free it. Car should then start OK, but cars seldom fix themselves and you will need a new/re-cond starter motor.
If it's electric, then I'll hand over to someone who knows....
If it's electric, then I'll hand over to someone who knows....
ajg31 said:
Run a wire from the battery directly to the starter motor. If it fires you know you have a break in the switched side of the circuit. This happened to mine and drove me crazy for weeks.
Thanks - Sounds a good idea and have done this too many years ago on other cars.At the risk of sounding a numpty, I struggled to see where the starter motor is on the Noble though - I think its on the passenger side of the car, mounted on the side engine/gearbox which is nearest the front of the car.
Am I even warm here and if so, how easy is it to get a wire on or bypass the solenoid?
Thanks
The Nobles in the US have a starter relay mounted on the side rail above the battery - follow the positive battery cable and you should be able to find it. What I'd do is hook a meter or a test light up to the side of the relay that goes to the starter (there are two big terminals on the relay - one goes straight to the battery, and the other goes to the starter motor), and see if there's any voltage there when you try to start the car.
Tonyvan has asked me to pass on that he had exactly the same probelm with his 3R. It did turn out to be the starter motor even though the fault pointed towards battery/starter solenoid.
He took his starter motor apart, as a new one is circa £300 and found that the brushes in the end of the starter motor, which should make contact with the rotor (spring loaded), had seized and were making no contact at all. A little WD40 and some persistent moving of the springs and back in business.
The motor is a pig to get out but worth it for the money saved.
HTH
Simon
He took his starter motor apart, as a new one is circa £300 and found that the brushes in the end of the starter motor, which should make contact with the rotor (spring loaded), had seized and were making no contact at all. A little WD40 and some persistent moving of the springs and back in business.
The motor is a pig to get out but worth it for the money saved.
HTH
Simon
Edited by SimonJW on Sunday 5th April 14:00
Thanks for all the good advice
I've managed to get a better look at the problem today and it seems like the starter motor is fine. I applied 12 volts straight from the battery to the ignition input terminal on the solenoid and it started no probs.
Even managed to get out for a spin. 
A mulitmeter check shows no 12v from the ignition when either the key or the starter button is pressed.
I'm now armed with the build manual and a multimeter and will do some fault finding (I hope!).
Before I start - anyone know of the most likely culprit which might be causing this?
Cheers
Andrew
I've managed to get a better look at the problem today and it seems like the starter motor is fine. I applied 12 volts straight from the battery to the ignition input terminal on the solenoid and it started no probs.
Even managed to get out for a spin. A mulitmeter check shows no 12v from the ignition when either the key or the starter button is pressed.
I'm now armed with the build manual and a multimeter and will do some fault finding (I hope!).
Before I start - anyone know of the most likely culprit which might be causing this?
Cheers
Andrew
I would say 100% that it is the starter relay.
Open your rear clam and look towards the back of your driver seat. Above the battery on the bulkhead.
The manual says the starter relay is 2nd from the right i think. Mine was infact 2nd from left. You also have one spare relay. (mine was the centre of the 5).
Swap them and hey presto you can start as normal, drive to a supplier and replace your spare for next time.
Ryan
Open your rear clam and look towards the back of your driver seat. Above the battery on the bulkhead.
The manual says the starter relay is 2nd from the right i think. Mine was infact 2nd from left. You also have one spare relay. (mine was the centre of the 5).
Swap them and hey presto you can start as normal, drive to a supplier and replace your spare for next time.
Ryan
I would say 100% that it is the starter relay.
Open your rear clam and look towards the back of your driver seat. Above the battery on the bulkhead.
The manual says the starter relay is 2nd from the right i think. Mine was infact 2nd from left. You also have one spare relay. (mine was the centre of the 5).
Swap them and hey presto you can start as normal, drive to a supplier and replace your spare for next time.
Ryan
Open your rear clam and look towards the back of your driver seat. Above the battery on the bulkhead.
The manual says the starter relay is 2nd from the right i think. Mine was infact 2nd from left. You also have one spare relay. (mine was the centre of the 5).
Swap them and hey presto you can start as normal, drive to a supplier and replace your spare for next time.
Ryan
And the answer was.......
Poor connection somewhere at the Starter solenoid 12v fuse - one of the 4 rear fuses - or the 12v line from the fuse into the relay. Not really sure which, although I think the problem was probably at the fuse.
Checking out the relay showed it to be working fine.
Having cleaned up and poked all the connections, I now have a starting car and I'm looking forward to getting out onto the roads!
Poor connection somewhere at the Starter solenoid 12v fuse - one of the 4 rear fuses - or the 12v line from the fuse into the relay. Not really sure which, although I think the problem was probably at the fuse.
Checking out the relay showed it to be working fine.
Having cleaned up and poked all the connections, I now have a starting car and I'm looking forward to getting out onto the roads!
i had a simillar problem on saturday. no fuel pump noise on ignition at all and obviously tick over but no joy in starting.
before picking up the phone i thought id check the rear fuses under the clam. pulled them all out and pushed them back in again (the equivelant of my IT man at work saying have you turned it off and on again!) and hey presto all sorted. it was quite a rollercoaster of emotions for 30 mins but happy in the end.
thats my first car fix ever without help - im so proud lol.
glad you got it sorted especially as the suns coming out now, a busted noble in the summer is about as frustrating as it gets!
before picking up the phone i thought id check the rear fuses under the clam. pulled them all out and pushed them back in again (the equivelant of my IT man at work saying have you turned it off and on again!) and hey presto all sorted. it was quite a rollercoaster of emotions for 30 mins but happy in the end.
thats my first car fix ever without help - im so proud lol.
glad you got it sorted especially as the suns coming out now, a busted noble in the summer is about as frustrating as it gets!
and nothing to pay Mr. serviceman either. Gassing Station | Noble | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff