Damn starting fault
Discussion
Right, i will keep this simple.
My griff 500 will not start!
Well, it starts but requires jump leads every time.
Not technically a jump start tho, it just needs the terminals to connect, i dont actually have to start the other car, just put the leads between the two.
Its been to my local TVR dealer a couple of times and seems to work for a month or two then the same thing happens again.
I can drive it happily for a coupleof hours but soon as i stop and try to restart, nadda, nothing, no life whatsoever.
Im fast approaching the end of my tether.
Any ideas??
thanks.
My griff 500 will not start!
Well, it starts but requires jump leads every time.
Not technically a jump start tho, it just needs the terminals to connect, i dont actually have to start the other car, just put the leads between the two.
Its been to my local TVR dealer a couple of times and seems to work for a month or two then the same thing happens again.
I can drive it happily for a coupleof hours but soon as i stop and try to restart, nadda, nothing, no life whatsoever.
Im fast approaching the end of my tether.
Any ideas??
thanks.
clarkmagpie said:
I can drive it happily for a couple of hours but soon as i stop and try to restart, nadda, nothing, no life whatsoever.
And I expect by the time you've fiddled around fitting the jump leads etc. it starts first time 
Sounds like the dreaded "hot-start" problem to me. Do a search here you will find loads of posts on it. Basically it will start OK when cold but not when hot but if you leave it 15 mins to cool down it will start again. If it's a flat battery you won't hear the fuel pump priming but if it's the hot start problem then the pumps etc. all come on but nothing happens when you turn the key. Is this what's happening? 
Perhaps i wasn't clear!
It is def not a hot start fault as it just wont start!
It will only start initially off jump leads, i really meant that it wont/doesnt seem to charge after a drive.
After the jump i cant drive happily until i need to stop then i have to go through the ordeal of trying to get the damn jump leads on!
Would it do any damage to leave jump leads conected to the battery to save time/effort and scrapped knuckles?
It is def not a hot start fault as it just wont start!
It will only start initially off jump leads, i really meant that it wont/doesnt seem to charge after a drive.
After the jump i cant drive happily until i need to stop then i have to go through the ordeal of trying to get the damn jump leads on!
Would it do any damage to leave jump leads conected to the battery to save time/effort and scrapped knuckles?
clarkmagpie said:
Perhaps i wasn't clear...
Ok I just wondered if it was only after a long drive that it won't start. Do you use an Optimate/Accumate in the garage when it's not being used?
You can get a set of leads that remain permenantly in place and feed a female connector located on the chassis bar in front of the engine bay (the one which has the header tank fitted to it).
Edited by RichB on Sunday 14th June 18:23
When it is cold and won't start, I presume you mean it isn't turning over on the starter?
Does your voltage gauge on the car move when you click the key to start?
When you turn the ignition to start do you get a click from the solenoid or just nothing?
It sounds to me like some sort of voltage or current loss issue to the starter. Either you don't have enough volts at the solenoid or the on the main starter feed. You say it worked ok for a while after was returned from the garage. Are they charging the battery at all? By attaching jump leads and another battery you are boosting the battery power.
If you haven't got a condifitioner I would suggest this might help by keeping the battery topped up. Even though it's not the usual hot start issue, the fix might help with the current switching. It's a cheap enough mod to try and you've not lost much if it doesn't fix the problem.
Run some resistance checks on the main battery to starter cable and also the starter to battery earth.
Does your voltage gauge on the car move when you click the key to start?
When you turn the ignition to start do you get a click from the solenoid or just nothing?
It sounds to me like some sort of voltage or current loss issue to the starter. Either you don't have enough volts at the solenoid or the on the main starter feed. You say it worked ok for a while after was returned from the garage. Are they charging the battery at all? By attaching jump leads and another battery you are boosting the battery power.
If you haven't got a condifitioner I would suggest this might help by keeping the battery topped up. Even though it's not the usual hot start issue, the fix might help with the current switching. It's a cheap enough mod to try and you've not lost much if it doesn't fix the problem.
Run some resistance checks on the main battery to starter cable and also the starter to battery earth.
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