Another "Car won't Start" thread ....
Discussion
Hi Guys, There's been a few of these recently so I thought I'd join in 
It one of those rare occasions I'm with my car and I'm trying to resolve a starting issue that first occured last Autumn. The car is being stored and is sorn'd so I can't take it to a local garage to sort out.
For all the time it's been in storage it has always started first time and run well, but last Autumn I connected the battery (which was in good condition and on a trickle charger) and tried to start the car. The fuel pump didn't prime, but instead I just got a short series of clicks from the passenger foot well. When the clicking had stopped I turned the key further to turn the car over. The engine turned over fine, but obviously no start as the fuel pump han't primed.
So, assuming it was a dead fuel pump relay I came back in January to fit a new one. But, the battery had been left off charge and had gone flat. Didn't have time to wait for a re-charge and left it until today.
Now... The situation is different again. The battery is fully charged and new relay fitted. On connecting the battery the alarm does it's usual 'setting itself' procedure, as if you'd just locked the car. So once I'm out of the footwell I press the keyfob to unlock the car. All is good, the car unlocks, but the siren gives a couple of beeps. Try locking/unlocking the car again. This is all fine but I still get the two bleeps from the siren on unlock.
Anyway, I get in the car and dissarm the immobiliser. Turn the key and all ordinary car electrics function, still no fuel pump primimg, but I no longer get the clicks from the footwell. Turn the key further and I now get clicks from the starter.
So I'm now confused ?!?
1. Why is the fuel pump still not priming ? (if we can push the car out of the cramped garage I'll see if I can take a look at the connections).
2. What do the bleeps from the alarm siren mean ?
3. The starter could be dead, but it was only replaced a year before it went into storage and has been fine up until now.
4. 100A fuse ? I just noticed one behind the battery, so I'm guessing there are two to check ?
5. Immobiliser ? But if that was cutting in it would stop the fuel pump, but surely it would stop power to the starter as well ?
Sorry this is a long one, but I'm only with the car for a couple of days so thought I'd better cram in as much info as possible.
Cheers
G
It one of those rare occasions I'm with my car and I'm trying to resolve a starting issue that first occured last Autumn. The car is being stored and is sorn'd so I can't take it to a local garage to sort out.
For all the time it's been in storage it has always started first time and run well, but last Autumn I connected the battery (which was in good condition and on a trickle charger) and tried to start the car. The fuel pump didn't prime, but instead I just got a short series of clicks from the passenger foot well. When the clicking had stopped I turned the key further to turn the car over. The engine turned over fine, but obviously no start as the fuel pump han't primed.
So, assuming it was a dead fuel pump relay I came back in January to fit a new one. But, the battery had been left off charge and had gone flat. Didn't have time to wait for a re-charge and left it until today.
Now... The situation is different again. The battery is fully charged and new relay fitted. On connecting the battery the alarm does it's usual 'setting itself' procedure, as if you'd just locked the car. So once I'm out of the footwell I press the keyfob to unlock the car. All is good, the car unlocks, but the siren gives a couple of beeps. Try locking/unlocking the car again. This is all fine but I still get the two bleeps from the siren on unlock.
Anyway, I get in the car and dissarm the immobiliser. Turn the key and all ordinary car electrics function, still no fuel pump primimg, but I no longer get the clicks from the footwell. Turn the key further and I now get clicks from the starter.
So I'm now confused ?!?
1. Why is the fuel pump still not priming ? (if we can push the car out of the cramped garage I'll see if I can take a look at the connections).
2. What do the bleeps from the alarm siren mean ?
3. The starter could be dead, but it was only replaced a year before it went into storage and has been fine up until now.
4. 100A fuse ? I just noticed one behind the battery, so I'm guessing there are two to check ?
5. Immobiliser ? But if that was cutting in it would stop the fuel pump, but surely it would stop power to the starter as well ?
Sorry this is a long one, but I'm only with the car for a couple of days so thought I'd better cram in as much info as possible.
Cheers
G
Edited by GJR on Thursday 2nd April 13:13
If it’s a Meta Alarm, the immobiliser has three separate circuits one each for Fuel Pump, Starter and Ignition. Any one of these three internal relays can fail.
However I’ve had two sounders fail also with similar results. If your sure you can switch the alarm off, I’d first try disconnecting the sounder, then go through the arm disarm, then try and start her, but if the alarm is faulty and you cannot switch it off as you disconnect the sounder it may do all kinds of funny stuff.
However I’ve had two sounders fail also with similar results. If your sure you can switch the alarm off, I’d first try disconnecting the sounder, then go through the arm disarm, then try and start her, but if the alarm is faulty and you cannot switch it off as you disconnect the sounder it may do all kinds of funny stuff.
Thanks for your comments guys. As a bit of an update, I left the car with the alarm active while I did some other jobs and wrote the above post. When I came back an hour or so later and unlocked the car I didn't get the two bleeps from the siren. I locked and unlocked again, and still the siren made no noise, but I still have no fuel pump priming and just clicking from the starter.
I tried Simon.b's suggestion about setting the alarm off, but no amount of movement inside the car would set the alarm off. Finally I did set it off, but only by reaching in and opening the door from the inside. The alarm sounded and turned off fine but it hasn't solved the starting problem. I wonder if you're right BB ? Maybe the bleeps were a diagnostic of some sort and that some of the sensors have failed (it is a Meta system BTW).
As for the non start, I'll check the inertia switch tomorrow along with starter, 100A, and fuel pump connections. If there is no joy I guess I'll have to call it a day until the Autumn when I hope to get her back on the road.
G
I tried Simon.b's suggestion about setting the alarm off, but no amount of movement inside the car would set the alarm off. Finally I did set it off, but only by reaching in and opening the door from the inside. The alarm sounded and turned off fine but it hasn't solved the starting problem. I wonder if you're right BB ? Maybe the bleeps were a diagnostic of some sort and that some of the sensors have failed (it is a Meta system BTW).
As for the non start, I'll check the inertia switch tomorrow along with starter, 100A, and fuel pump connections. If there is no joy I guess I'll have to call it a day until the Autumn when I hope to get her back on the road.
G
Another thing you could try is to temp hardwire to the fuel pump to see if it primes it.if it doesn't then must be the pump. . If it does then there probably is a prob with a connector en route( behind door pillar nearside)wiring Or relay..
Although I am unsure where the alarm cuts into the circuit, prob behind dash and would ask carl baker for help..
BB
Although I am unsure where the alarm cuts into the circuit, prob behind dash and would ask carl baker for help..
BB
Gassing Station | Griffith | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff