No Power - No start - Helpppp!!!!!!!!!

[Hoover.]

Sorry but search facility down again.

Battery has been out of the car on charge as the car hasn't been used a lot over the last few months...... but put the battery in connected all the usual werring noises... went to start it and the start motor just turned clicking with no attempt to fire up ( abit like when you have a really really flat battery)..... then no electric power at all

Checked all connections, on battery, isolator switch, all leads connection to plugs and coil... still nothing, the clock isn't even moving, no ignition lights....... nothing.

Tried connecting via jump leads to the alfa to see try jump start... still no power.

get to dark to play about in foot well, so bought battery in doors ... connected to charger, straight away into maintance mode.. so nothing to do with battery.

NOTE: car is precat so not a 100 amp fuse thing.....

HELPPPPPPPP!!!!!! please as pissed off as wanted to go to Ace Cafe meet tonight, and want to go on Herts PH run on Sunday

where do i start.... what am i looking for, or do I just call the professionals

[clive f]

immobilisor? look and unlock cr to reset?

unplug ecu, plug back in to reset?

[Hoover.]

clive f said:

immobilisor? look and unlock cr to reset?

unplug ecu, plug back in to reset?

if its the imobilsor it's going to have to be low laoded away as there is no power to unlock/lock the doors...... it's lterally as if there is no battery in car... no power to anything

I'll try unplugging te ecu....

got Friday off so might as well draw up a list of things to try.

[clive f]

hmmm, need an electrical boffin....dnb!!!!!!

[Hoover.]

clive... thats what scares me.... electric

no idea what they are talking about at all, nice enough as Dave is and I admire his work... sorry in my head dust clouds n tumble weed somes it up.

I think will call local garge tomorrow, but hard to call in a favour to express sort out as I don't use them

[spend]

Check the battery connections are clean & on tight, then the dreaded battery earth (you can of course temporarily link a new big earth cable from the battery to a more accessible chassis bolt to test & then use it if it's an emergency).

[dnb]

From the first post, it sounds like it would be worth looking at the starter solenoid. If the contacts in the solenoid are corroded, the starter will pull loads of current from the battery and get hot instead of turning the motor. This will cause a volts drop and stop the whole car from working, and probably upset the immobiliser. Same sort of effect as a bad battery connection.

[Hoover.]

Check list for Friday

1) disconect ecu and reconnect - not much hope held for this BUT you never know
2) battery terminals are fine... BUT will check earthing
3) solenoid do dah.. will read up where to find this ... cheers Dave as a gambling man this is where i'd put money, but not understanding why


all help is very much appreciated

[FlipFlopGriff]

Hoover. said:

Check list for Friday

1) disconect ecu and reconnect - not much hope held for this BUT you never know
2) battery terminals are fine... BUT will check earthing
3) solenoid do dah.. will read up where to find this ... cheers Dave as a gambling man this is where i'd put money, but not understanding why


all help is very much appreciated

Steve,
The starter motor is on the underside of the car under the drivers left foot approx and look like a Pringles tube with some bits attached (good target reference I thought). Thick red cable going to it, you can't miss this. Make sure you disconnect the battery before fannying about with it.
Also check you haven't had a retro fit of an 80/100a fuse in teh footwell somewhere in the spaghetti - will be a black (probably rectangular box approx 3" long by 1" high and 1" wide).
Me no understand electrics either so hope the laymans explanation helps. Hope you get it sorted.
FFG

[clive f]

but Paul, are you refering to the sour cream and onion pringles or bbq beef,

you know steve will need a precise clue

[Rob_the_Sparky]

I'm no expert on TVRs so can't help on specifics but know electronics pretty well.

You initially said it clicked the starter - did you have power then at this point and since then it failed? If yes then I'd say it looks like something bust, most likely a fuse if there is one.

The lack of power to everything doesn't sound like ECU as I very much doubt it has any involvement in the lights on the car. From what I remember on mine the only thing to turns the lights on/off is the switch on the dash so for that to not work there is no power from the battery to the switch. If the battery is charged then you are looking for a duff connection or blown fuse.

Time to get out a DVM and start testing...

[JonathanT]

Do you have an 80ish Amp fuse in the footwell between the battery and everything else? Even if the ECU or immobiliser is playing up, the lights, horn, cigarette lighter, clock should still work.

[The Lodge]

Hi Steve,

I would double check the battery first when a cell dies you can have good voltage but no power, and this can happen to a so called good battery.

If its not that then it could be the starter motor drawing current

Double check battery first, jump starting wont work when a battery is really dead.

[Hoover.]

Thanks for the replies..... will be having a look tomorrow when off, not how I planned to spend the day but hey hoo.

I spoke to TVR Power this morning, and they have pointed towards a possible 80 amp fuse, which is attached to a then brown wire coming off the +'ve battery terminal

will also borrow neighbours landrover battery to check as well.

if not this will just slowly work my round, it's about time i learn electric's.

[FlipFlopGriff]

If you've got one likely to be at the back near the fuse board. Mines just about reachable if you don't mind a bit of gurning on the way in.
Do you have a spare fuse?
http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/VWP-onlinest...
Usually a strip fuse (FS50) but better if you can fit the one below (MIDI 80 or 100). I think this is correct. Order a couple so at least you'll have some spares - always useful.
FFG

[FlipFlopGriff]

Give up yet?
FFG

[Hoover.]

FlipFlopGriff said:

Give up yet?
FFG

Gave up after 4 hrs this morning....... it ain't the battery, it aint the fuses (from what I can tell)....

Got a new battery, as neighbour not about, and the car did the same as previous, apart from after the ticking starter all the power cut from the car and after a few mins power came back...... did this a few times then asame as previous no power to anything.......... phone call, low loader, garage, done!!

[S3DaveP]

Hi Hoover... i was in Bespoke Performance getting the Griff MOT'ed when you called i think as i overhead the call, as you are local to me i think.

The guys there seem to be really knowledgable, i hope its an easy fix and you don't miss the great weather to drive it!

[Hoover.]

S3DaveP said:

Hi Hoover... i was in Bespoke Performance getting the Griff MOT'ed when you called i think as i overhead the call, as you are local to me i think.

The guys there seem to be really knowledgable, i hope its an easy fix and you don't miss the great weather to drive it!

Yep, that was me calling them........ shouldn't be to difficult for them as they have the knowledge & tools, and they are tidying up my electrics as I want them whilst it's there.

I popped over this afternoon after my car was taken in to have a nose around..... friendly bunch, let me wander around, chatted with the mechanics (technitions I think they refer to them as)..... I came away impressed with the set-up.

[Hoover.]

Hopefully it is some badly corroded terminals on the starter motor....... new set ordered and fitted tomorrow & hopefully that's it cured :fingerscrossed: