Any tech heads got any ideas?? HELP??????

[jimgixer6]

Hi,My 4.2 cerb has gone into meltdown. I had it parked on drive and got soaked by the torrential rain we had. I always leave it in gear with hand brake on. Came home from work and it had driven itself across the road.Managed to boost enough life into it to pop doors to move it back. The footwells were full of water. I took the ecu and control units out to dry them. When i try to start it the pump primes but i get a little click from a relay in passengers footwell but no life to starter motor. also drivers door will not close on latch now. Any advice much appreciated.

[DanTVR]

No idea why it would have moved, but it sounds like there isn't enough life in the battery to start the car. This will probably be causing you door problems. Try jumping it from another battery or running car and see if that helps. Have you key fob ready too as when I did this the car thought the battery had been disconnected

Dan

[mickk]

How could it have moved if the car was in gear?

[itiejim]

Attempt theft sounds like a real possibility - someone unable to start it and flattened the battery?

[jimgixer6]

It moved because it was left in gear and starter? wiring loom has shorted or something(due to water ingress) Hence turning over whilst in gear will drive it forward!!! Have tried it with a booster on to top up battery charge and no difference. The battery is showing 12.5v when connected which should be enough to do something? All lights,heater and ancilleries work ok.Passenger door fired open ok. Any ideas on how to test/find starter relay.It is not throwing starter bendix in or power not getting to solonoid.

[jimgixer6]

Also forgot to add the alarm keeps setting hazard lights off. Have unplugged then reconnected.
Is ther any sequence that has to be followed to get these things to work when the battery has been disconnected for a while?

[2mad]

have you checked the fuse box and the 100amp fuse

[Boosted LS1]

jimgixer6 said:

It moved because it was left in gear and starter? wiring loom has shorted or something(due to water ingress) Hence turning over whilst in gear will drive it forward!!!

I don't really buy that. If that was the case who worked the brakes or did it stall when hitting an object? If it drove across the road on the starter what switched the starter circuit off?

[FarmyardPants]

Wow, not heard of one driving itself before. Impressive. The measured voltage of the battery is no indication of its health, what matters is whether it can still deliver that voltage when asked to deliver a few hundred amps.

[shpub]

It's the ignition module ECU on top of the fuel tank. It controls both the main ignition and starter feed and these wires can get hot and melt or even short out. It also has a built-in feature that when one or more of the ignition related fuses go pop the unit can permanently engage the starter and this will move the car. You get a wire short out, it pops a fuse or two and the strater is engaged. Turning the ignition off etc will not switch it off. The only way is to disconnect the battery or pull the wires out of the ignition module itself.

Yes it happened to me coming off the motorway a few months ago. Stopped at a junction. Car stalled and then then the starter came on!

The good news is that I have redesigned the ignition module so that it fails save. I use a metal case and metal connectors to help with the overheating and 40A relays. It has lower power consumption in standby and I have been using this for about 6 months now on the LS Cerbera and had no problem so if the module is melted, let me know and I'll sort out a replacement. I have been meaning to add it to the product list but just haven't got round to it. I am looking at the other modules as well as they are not the best units in the world.

In summary, check the ignition fuses and the ignition module on the top of the fuel tank.

PS You AJP people need not worry, the unit doesn't require an LS in the car to work!

[jimgixer6]

OK. checked fuse box.All ok. Where do i find the 100 amp fuse?
Is that the one on the main power line under bulkhead to starter motor? If so it's ok..
Not too bothered if you don't buy what happened as i am not selling it!! Just stating a fact. The fact that the battery power became too low for it to go any further was what stopped it!! It did not start up and go for a blast to tesco's. It has shorted somewhere because when i managed to do the cerbera break in through the boot trick,got power charger to battery it was still trying to turn the starter over.The immobiliser stopped it from firing.I leave it in gear as hand brake is about as usefull as tits on a fish.I disconnected it,charged it and now it will not fire the starter.
I very much doubt it was attempted theft as no signs on car anywhere. .
Does anyone know anybody who knows cerbera electrics.
I have been through all the obvious stuff unless there are particular sequences needed?Is the relay under the p/side dash the starter relay?
Thanks....

ETA

sorry for the but a little too much info can be a bad thing on a public forum.

Edited by Big Al. on Sunday 13th December 21:40

[shpub]

Check the ignition module ECU on top of the tank. I think our posts may have crossed.

What you have described is exactly what happened to me except I managed to disconnect the battery before the battery was completely flat. Still needed the AA to help jump start the car though.

[jimgixer6]

Hi shpub,
Someone who finally doesn't think i am bs mental case..
Thanks for the info!!!! You the man...
How do i get in contact with you to sort this little beggar out?
I fell in love with these cars years ago and finally saved enough to get one,since then i have had nothing but trouble.Think i bought a pup. Any info is much appreciated. Do you think that the door not staying on latch is electrical or mechanical?
Cheers...

[al 350i]

is it not just a case of the starter motor is now probably knackered, have you tried jump starting straight on to the starter motor.

[2mad]

check out www.tvr-cerbera.co.uk go into workshop manuels then electrical you will find alot of usful info.