Can't start
Can't start
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gbbird

Original Poster:

5,193 posts

266 months

Saturday 7th February 2004
quotequote all
Fired up the Cerb today after not using for a week. It managed to start, but then i accidentally stalled it when reversing. Then it simply would'nt start again. When i press the black button it makes the right noises and the starter motor seems to turn over once or twice, but then stops.

Do you reckon its the battery, or something else? I am charging the battery as i speak and my fingers are crossed.

trefor

14,715 posts

305 months

Saturday 7th February 2004
quotequote all
Probably flooded - happens on RoverV8 TVRs all too easily if you stall just after starting. FWIW had the same problem with my Audi the other day and had to take the reliable car to work instead. AA man told me later that on the Audi I should put my foot to the floor on the throttle BEFORE turning the key and it would cut the fuel supply off and allow the turning over to empty the cylinders of fuel. I suggest speaking to someone in the know before trying this on the Cerbera though.

j_s_g

6,177 posts

272 months

Saturday 7th February 2004
quotequote all
gbbird said:
Fired up the Cerb today after not using for a week. It managed to start, but then i accidentally stalled it when reversing. Then it simply would'nt start again. When i press the black button it makes the right noises and the starter motor seems to turn over once or twice, but then stops.

Do you reckon its the battery, or something else? I am charging the battery as i speak and my fingers are crossed.

Depends on whether it's a really sluggish turn-over, or as bright & chipper as it normally is. If it's sluggish, definitely the battery. When the battery goes flat(ish), then the hazard warning lights regularly come on when attempting turning it over & failing, if that helps...

beano500

20,854 posts

297 months

Saturday 7th February 2004
quotequote all
trefor said:
Probably flooded - happens on RoverV8 TVRs all too easily if you stall just after starting. FWIW had the same problem with my Audi the other day and had to take the reliable car to work instead. AA man told me later that on the Audi I should put my foot to the floor on the throttle BEFORE turning the key and it would cut the fuel supply off and allow the turning over to empty the cylinders of fuel. I suggest speaking to someone in the know before trying this on the Cerbera though.


Agreed - common problem on the Rover V8s. Well not so much a problem with the engine as the pr@ behind the wheel!

Done it myself too many times - would have to say that the best solution is to leave it alone for twenty minutes and it'll be right as rain. Don't know that this is the same for the AJP or SP6 - and I'd think carefully about the full throttle route, might be OK on a Eurobox but the race-derived engines in TVRs want a bit of TLC when cold......

gbbird

Original Poster:

5,193 posts

266 months

Saturday 7th February 2004
quotequote all
j_s_g said:

gbbird said:
Fired up the Cerb today after not using for a week. It managed to start, but then i accidentally stalled it when reversing. Then it simply would'nt start again. When i press the black button it makes the right noises and the starter motor seems to turn over once or twice, but then stops.

Do you reckon its the battery, or something else? I am charging the battery as i speak and my fingers are crossed.


Depends on whether it's a really sluggish turn-over, or as bright & chipper as it normally is. If it's sluggish, definitely the battery. When the battery goes flat(ish), then the hazard warning lights regularly come on when attempting turning it over & failing, if that helps...


It is much more sluggish than normal, and after a few attempts it gives up the ghost. Will charge it overnight and see what happens tomorrow. Cheers for the help guys

j_s_g

6,177 posts

272 months

Saturday 7th February 2004
quotequote all
gbbird said:

It is much more sluggish than normal, and after a few attempts it gives up the ghost. Will charge it overnight and see what happens tomorrow. Cheers for the help guys

Dead battery.

If the battery's not been replaced in a while, would be worth finding out how well it's still holding charge. Plus, if it's a low power-rating, it won't be happy in the Winter when the oil's that much thicker, etc. Had trouble with mine a couple of weeks ago - only had a 550A battery in, and nearly killed it each time I started the engine in the cold, even though the battery was only 7/8 months old. Switched it for a 630A and all is well again.

trooper1212

9,457 posts

274 months

Saturday 7th February 2004
quotequote all
Yep, a battery charge should sort you out.

You flooded the engine by stalling so soon after starting (done that a few times myself). Your choice at this point is to leave the car, go have a brew and come back later or to use the patented trooper flooded cerb starting technique. Turn the starter motor over and keep your finger on the starter button, the starter will turn but the engine won't fire (as you well know) Keep your foot off the throttle for the first 3 seconds or so, then start tapping the throttle at random intervals, about a second or two apart. The engine should kick into life on the 4th or 5th tap but you need well charged battery to do this...

gbbird

Original Poster:

5,193 posts

266 months

Sunday 8th February 2004
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Still no luck this morning following a battery charge all night. Did turn over several times, but no luck and then it just stopped again

Still probably the battery, so i will see if i can get a new one today

trefor

14,715 posts

305 months

Sunday 8th February 2004
quotequote all
Are you in the AA/RAC/Green Flag? This is their specialty, and they come to you and work on your car in the cold while you watch from a window sipping a cup of warm tea.

gbbird

Original Poster:

5,193 posts

266 months

Sunday 8th February 2004
quotequote all
I have just upgraded my breakdown package to include home callout. If i have no luck by tomorrow i shall be calling Mr Breakdown Man, and i will smoke a cigarette while he does his stuff

cacatous

3,172 posts

295 months

Sunday 8th February 2004
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Exactly what I just did yesterday

Got it low loaded to Precision Racing and went on my merry way! Did burn the clutch a bit though!!

AndyTather

73 posts

294 months

Monday 9th February 2004
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cacatous said:
Got it low loaded to Precision Racing and went on my merry way!
I had to do that too, on friday night all because my starter motor gave up at work

Buster4.2

487 posts

269 months

Tuesday 10th February 2004
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Have you ran out of fuel??

This was my problem last week even though showing 1/4 of a tank.

cacatous

3,172 posts

295 months

Tuesday 10th February 2004
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That's interesting because mine didn't start on a quarter of a tank. Won't let it go below half now...

kojak69

4,547 posts

275 months

Tuesday 10th February 2004
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Buster4.2 and Cacatous.

Are your sender units working correctly. In other words: are they giving the correct reading?

Buster4.2

487 posts

269 months

Tuesday 10th February 2004
quotequote all
kojak69 said:
Buster4.2 and Cacatous.

Are your sender units working correctly. In other words: are they giving the correct reading?


It is now, but seemed to throw a wobbly last week. Possibly sticking float? Will be watching mileage covered closer now!

gbbird

Original Poster:

5,193 posts

266 months

Tuesday 10th February 2004
quotequote all
All sorted now - thanks for all your advice.
It was the battery, and so replaced it today though, but what a pain in the ar*e! I dont mean changing the battery - that was relatively straightforward and the alarm only went off once. The difficulty was actually finding the right battery which fit - dont be fooled into thinking all 069's or 072's are the same shape and size, as they are not! some were too tall, others too short, and some too long! My advice is to take in your old one and ask for the exact same make, or if not then the exact same dimensions.

Im off for a well earned drive now.