Cerb won't start - MIL light
Cerb won't start - MIL light
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Discussion

mickydoo

Original Poster:

297 posts

175 months

Friday 30th March 2012
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Gents,

I've been away for 4 days, leaving the Cerb on the driveway, given the weather has been so good.

On my return the car won't start. The alarm arms & disarms as it should, but when I press the starter button the MIL light comes on & stays on. No amount of arming/disaming, or using the manual immobiliser disable makes any difference, and the starter motor just doesn't even attempt to turn.

Any ideas? Surely if it was battery, wouldn't the starter make a groan at least?

Tacchino

324 posts

183 months

Friday 30th March 2012
quotequote all
Mine's done that - it was a virtually dead battery caused by the alternator shorting out.
Enough power to open the doors and power the dash up but no fuel pump etc

I used a jump pack to get her going and confirm that it was a battery drain problem.

The MIL light wasn't illuminated but that's because a previous owner had bypassed it!

If you do get it going I hope you've got some fuel in it 'coz you ain't gonna get any in Charminster.

C3BER

4,714 posts

252 months

Friday 30th March 2012
quotequote all
Electrics I'm crap at but does sound like a flat battery or have you played with the key of death to much.

Nigelbs1

98 posts

200 months

Saturday 31st March 2012
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Hmm on my cerb when you unlock the car and get in and you press the red button the mil light always comes on to let you know your ready to start and that the impobiliser hasnt re-ingaged.

If you dont press the red button fast enough after getting in the imobiliser has re-ingaged so I just press the red button then the button on the fob mil light comes on fuel pump primes and press red again to start. Then MIL light goes out.

Starter motor will turn if impobiliser is still armed but fuel pump wont prime. As your starter is not turning check you havn't got a flat battery mine does this if left outside in the cold for a week. Can get in the car but battery is so dead starter wont turn you just get a click.

A bit strange that your battery would be that dead in four days in warm weather though. You didn't leave the lights on did you or an internal light?

Charge the battery see what happens. I hope its that simple.

TVdinneR

240 posts

179 months

Saturday 31st March 2012
quotequote all
Nigelbs1 said:
Hmm on my cerb when you unlock the car and get in and you press the red button the mil light always comes on to let you know your ready to start and that the impobiliser hasnt re-ingaged.

If you dont press the red button fast enough after getting in the imobiliser has re-ingaged so I just press the red button then the button on the fob mil light comes on fuel pump primes and press red again to start. Then MIL light goes out.
Do you mean black button ?
If so, then agree.


Edited by TVdinneR on Saturday 31st March 14:51

mickydoo

Original Poster:

297 posts

175 months

Saturday 31st March 2012
quotequote all
Gave battery a charge & then it started. Took her for a long run & seems ok now. Until this evening when the bh turns but won't fire....I wonder if this is the fuel pump not priming but then I can smell fuel. Interestingly I did pickup a slight misfire under load in 4th earlier today & put it down to the 95ron I had to feed her cos of the fuel shortage. I wonder if perhaps somehow she's flooded. Will try again in 20mins once the fuel has evaporated. Pain in the ass fussy cars wink gotta love em, especially at full chat heheheh

mickydoo

Original Poster:

297 posts

175 months

Saturday 31st March 2012
quotequote all
Although if this does prove to be tuning or engine maintenance related I won't be a happy camper as she was serviced only 3 weeks ago.....just tried again no luck. Turns but won't fire. Had new sparks at the Service too...

C3BER

4,714 posts

252 months

Sunday 1st April 2012
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Is the pump priming?

Nigelbs1

98 posts

200 months

Sunday 1st April 2012
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LOL yup I was thinking black but typed red. ir retarded.

TVdinneR said:
Do you mean black button ?
If so, then agree.


Edited by TVdinneR on Saturday 31st March 14:51

mickydoo

Original Poster:

297 posts

175 months

Sunday 1st April 2012
quotequote all
started this morning, gave it a few revs on starting. Somehow, it must've flooded. Are the AJP8s sensitive to that?

tejr

3,495 posts

193 months

Sunday 1st April 2012
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Was going to say flooding.. was tinkering with mine this morning.. started it, let it run for a min then switched off so I could carry on what I was doing.. went to start it again and it just kept turning and wouldn't fire! gave me a it of a scare but must have been flooded.. left it a few mins and she fired smile

Tanguero

4,535 posts

230 months

Sunday 1st April 2012
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If you have flooded it (or think you have) pull the fuel pump relay and turn it over on the starter with full throttle. It will clear the flood, cough, fire up then die. Plug the relay back in and it will start straight away normally.