Discussion
Evening all,
A rare issue with my 1996 Chim 500 which has been astonishingly trouble free since I bought it almost 10 yrs ago...
Used it last about a month ago (yes I know...). No problems then, and parked up in garage as usual with trickle charger attached.
Went to use it today, unlocked doors using key fob, unhooked charger, used key fob to disarm immobiliser (little red light stopped flashing), turned ignition on, fuel pump primed, sounded normal, went to turn engine on.... nothing. No clicks, or other sounds of any sort. Repeated several times with same result.
Battery seems ok, main beam headlights fine. And when I've had a low battery before i've always heard the solenoid/starter motor engage.
So.... solenoid knackered? Immobiliser playing up? Any suggestions out there? What should be my first line of attack?
Cheers in advance!
A rare issue with my 1996 Chim 500 which has been astonishingly trouble free since I bought it almost 10 yrs ago...
Used it last about a month ago (yes I know...). No problems then, and parked up in garage as usual with trickle charger attached.
Went to use it today, unlocked doors using key fob, unhooked charger, used key fob to disarm immobiliser (little red light stopped flashing), turned ignition on, fuel pump primed, sounded normal, went to turn engine on.... nothing. No clicks, or other sounds of any sort. Repeated several times with same result.
Battery seems ok, main beam headlights fine. And when I've had a low battery before i've always heard the solenoid/starter motor engage.
So.... solenoid knackered? Immobiliser playing up? Any suggestions out there? What should be my first line of attack?
Cheers in advance!
Exactly the same as what I had.
It's very likely your problem is nothing to do with the starter, it's almost certainly the relay in the immobiliser (starter circuit).
Actually as I understand it there are three relays inside the immobiliser, each controlling a different circuit.
1) Live to coil
2) Live to fuel pump
3) Live to starter solenoid (key in the sprung start position)
The relays are fine for 1 & 2 but just aren't man enough for the amps drawn by the starter solenoid.
This issue was made worse by the fact TVR wired the relays incorrectly, these factors combined with the age of our cars causes the problem you are experiencing.
Basically the contacts in the relay that controls the starter circuit have become pitted.
Your best option is to call Carl Baker who will fit you a complete new alarm system that has improved & correctly wired relays.
http://www.tvruk.tv/www.tvruk.tv/index.html
Or as a temporary cheap fix you could just do what I did:
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
It's very likely your problem is nothing to do with the starter, it's almost certainly the relay in the immobiliser (starter circuit).
Actually as I understand it there are three relays inside the immobiliser, each controlling a different circuit.
1) Live to coil
2) Live to fuel pump
3) Live to starter solenoid (key in the sprung start position)
The relays are fine for 1 & 2 but just aren't man enough for the amps drawn by the starter solenoid.
This issue was made worse by the fact TVR wired the relays incorrectly, these factors combined with the age of our cars causes the problem you are experiencing.
Basically the contacts in the relay that controls the starter circuit have become pitted.
Your best option is to call Carl Baker who will fit you a complete new alarm system that has improved & correctly wired relays.
http://www.tvruk.tv/www.tvruk.tv/index.html
Or as a temporary cheap fix you could just do what I did:
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Edited by Chimpafrolic on Sunday 19th June 21:27
Peak - will give it a good smack tomorrow. Didn't get a chance to investigate in detail today.
Chimp - many thanks for the detailed reply - does indeed sound like a plausible solution. I'll drop you a mail and would be very grateful if you could email me some more details. Otherwise I guess I could be coming off a few hundred quid worse off...
Thanks for the help guys.
Chimp - many thanks for the detailed reply - does indeed sound like a plausible solution. I'll drop you a mail and would be very grateful if you could email me some more details. Otherwise I guess I could be coming off a few hundred quid worse off...
Thanks for the help guys.
Nope, actually not sure what that is. I joined pistonheads back in 2002, but haven't logged in for quite a while, clearly not up on some of the latest gadgets!
The only additional kit I ever fitted was a device that switched the fans on early to help combat over-heating issues.
I only had the hot start problem once about 4 years ago and it never recurred, so never really thought about it much.
The only additional kit I ever fitted was a device that switched the fans on early to help combat over-heating issues.
I only had the hot start problem once about 4 years ago and it never recurred, so never really thought about it much.
Hamish said:
So.... solenoid knackered? Immobiliser playing up? Any suggestions out there? What should be my first line of attack?
The first line of attack is to try connecting a temp live to the starter solenoid, by-passing the cranking circuit completely, if the starter cranks ok you can rule that out without it costing you anything.Once the starter is ruled out it will be relatively simple to diagnose the problem.
I had EXACTLY this problem a couple months ago. Mine had the "hot start" kit fitted, which basicall chucked in a load more dodgy wiring in the starter circuit in the pass footwell. I found (craftily hidden behind the battery box) a 20 amp inline fuse which had blown. Swapped it and all was fine again.
Mark, thanks. Any idea what those relays do? Its not clear in my Steve Heath.
I had the ecu and spaghetti out briefly last night and checked out a couple of the other suggestions, not easy in a tiny garage with limited access. Almost got a hernia trying to get at the 100 amp fuse on the alternator cable. Nerving myself to push it out on the drive this weekend and whip the dash top off as per Chimp above.
I had the ecu and spaghetti out briefly last night and checked out a couple of the other suggestions, not easy in a tiny garage with limited access. Almost got a hernia trying to get at the 100 amp fuse on the alternator cable. Nerving myself to push it out on the drive this weekend and whip the dash top off as per Chimp above.
For anyone who is remotely interested, I sorted the problem.
As predicted by several of you fine sherlocks it was indeed the immobiliser. Slightly surprising to me because it has failed without any warning at all (ie no hot start issues at all).
I took the dash top off, and bypassed the immobiliser using a technique suggested by Carl Barker of Car & Bike Installations who has apparently done hundreds of similar jobs. I used scotch locks to blind several circuits in such a way that Carl can easily fit a new system which is ultimately where I'm heading.
Straightforwad job except that the dash bolt on the drivers side is a real bu&&er to find, you can't actually see it, have to grope in the corners for it.
Would be pretty chuffed with the afternoons work except I managed to crack the walnut fascia. And I was being VERY VERY careful after reading various dire warnings. Not entirely how it happened or how to avoid it, but it must have been under some sort of stress in its normal state. Gonna have to live with that one.
As predicted by several of you fine sherlocks it was indeed the immobiliser. Slightly surprising to me because it has failed without any warning at all (ie no hot start issues at all).
I took the dash top off, and bypassed the immobiliser using a technique suggested by Carl Barker of Car & Bike Installations who has apparently done hundreds of similar jobs. I used scotch locks to blind several circuits in such a way that Carl can easily fit a new system which is ultimately where I'm heading.
Straightforwad job except that the dash bolt on the drivers side is a real bu&&er to find, you can't actually see it, have to grope in the corners for it.
Would be pretty chuffed with the afternoons work except I managed to crack the walnut fascia. And I was being VERY VERY careful after reading various dire warnings. Not entirely how it happened or how to avoid it, but it must have been under some sort of stress in its normal state. Gonna have to live with that one.
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff