Frustrated - Advice required please

[Jubes]

Well I think I've experienced every emotion during my relatively short TVR ownership!

The latest problem is mighty frustrating so any assistance/advice would be very much appreciated.

My car recently had a flat battery, which once charged out of the car and replaced caused the car to lock and immobilise.

No problem you may be thinking, well when I pressed the alarm button to disarm and open the car nothing happened.

To cut a long story short, I managed to get into my car via 'the secret' and then use the immobiliser fob in the dash slot. An alarm resync later and all was well - or so I thought!

My current problem is that the car now only starts after 10-15 tries - The procedure all seems fine and I can hear a relay (or something clicking in the rear of the car) when the car doesn't start. Several tries later and the car starts with no difference in starting procedure at all.

Procedure used:

1) Press alarm to disarm + open the car.
2) I then quickly press the start button - The buzzer then sounds and the fuel pump runs.
3) I then press the alarm fob button - I've tried starting without this stage too.
4) Press start button and 1 in 10-15 times it starts otherwise I get the clicking noise in the rear of car.

So any ideas would be great please.

Thanks all.

[C3BER]

Should be no need for stage three if your in and pressing within 15 seconds from de activating the alarm.

Have you tried keeping your finger on the start button even if you hear nothing for at least a min?

[Jubes]

Thanks C3BER for the speedy response.

I've tried holding it down for longer than I thought needed - I'll try it for a much longer period tomorrow.

I forgot to mention that once the car has started, if I stop/start the engine it starts straight away every time.

Thanks again.

[spongy]

Bud your immobiliser is on its way outthere is a trick with the wiring that can be done.Cant post on here but will look at mine this weekend as i am in the middle of an electric problem at the mo.will send you a pm when i get mine stripped this weekend

[Jubes]

Thanks very much spongy, any information that you've got that will help me would be very much appreciated.

I look forward to getting your PM.

Thanks again.

[spongy]

No probs bud,mine suddenly started doing this exact thing.The guys at dulfords said that while the car was there for an mot they would fix this,which they did and it has not happened since.This is a very common problem on the cerb and a two minute fix,but a pain in the arse when it happens.

[RUSSELLM]

Definitely sounds like the immobiliser.

Just sit there with your finger on the button, think my record was about 5 minutes. Pressing the horn or opening the door while holding the button down will sometimes make it start

Try & hum the 'Benny Hill chasing scantily women' tune to your self whilst doing it. It takes some of the tedium away.

[Tanguero]

If the buzzer is sounding when you first press the black button, do not press the alarm fob a second time (step 3) or you will turn the alarm back on. If the buzzer is sounding just hold down the black button. If it then doesn't start immediately, it is likely to be an immobilizer problem.

[methodwares]

I found that turning the little silver key off then back on while holding the button cured it for me.

[Tyre Smoke]

FWIW I would say starter motor rather than immobiliser. I find that immobilisers either work or don't. Not intermittently.

[Tanguero]

If the clicking was coming from the front of the car I would agree with it being the starter motor, but the clicking coming from the rear suggests immobilizer to me. Neither can be ruled out to be honest.

[Byker28i]

Haver you got the little square black key that goes into a slot by the cigar lighter. Sometimes things interfere with the imobiliser and you have to use the key in the slot. Under the power lines at Quarry corner at Castle Coombe is one such place

[Jubes]

Thanks for all of the replies chaps.

A little update, I've just been down to start my car and this time I left my finger on the starter button for much longer than normal. The car eventually started after approximately 30 seconds so it's looking like I've probably got an immobiliser problem.

On a positive note, I'm slowly refurbishing, replacing and upgraded parts on my car and I've also just replaced the useless wipers and jets for some Wipex items. I have to say I'm very impressed, they look MUCH better and work far better too - all for only £20 - Highly recommended.

[Jubes]

I forgot to mention that I've also tried the silver key idea and little black square key. Both unfortunately made no difference.

[tur8o]

i had a similar problem on mine, much reading on here suggested it could b a bad connection or relay contact somewhere causing less voltage at the starter. this leaves you with two options, check/clean/replace all connections/contacts or wire in another feed and relay to the starter direct from the battery.

[Jubes]

Thanks for the reply tur8o, I've got a list of things to do now:

1) Hopefully spongy's solution will fix my problem.

If not then:

2) Check/clean/repair all relevant connections and contacts.
3) Check connections, reset (remove connector) and then replace the immobiliser.
4) Test and then replace the starter motor.(Maybe wire in another feed and relay to the starter direct from the battery)

One of the above should hopefully resolve the problem.

[spongy]

Jubes i have looked at the connections in question ,but am consulting the wiring diagrams to confirm what the garage has done.If they have done what i think then its just a case of cutting one wireThis has been done in my car for sure but cant yet work out how/why it would work.

[Jubes]

spongy - Thanks for the help it's much appreciated.

[spongy]

YHM;)