Help with a non starter
Help with a non starter
Author
Discussion

vervecroft99

Original Poster:

12 posts

170 months

Monday 1st October 2012
quotequote all
Hi my cerb was in a smash and have had her in in a bodyshop having the damage sorted. Had her sat waiting to have some mechancial damage sorted and now she wont start. I believe the issue is to do with the wire coming from the negative battery terminal as this is no longer connected to anything.

Am i right in thinking this should be earth to chasis and if so does anyone know where about on the chassis this is? Currently the silver key is in the on position and you can here the fuel pump kicking in but no ignition when the starter button pressed, would this be in line with this wire not been connected or have i got another issue? cheers for your help guys x

Gazzab

21,583 posts

306 months

Monday 1st October 2012
quotequote all
I assume you have got the immobiliser turned off via alarm fob or black push key (assume so if it's priming).
Ignoring your earth issue... You mention the silver key, have you touched it? Normal advice is to never touch it. One thing to check is the wiring behind it, you may have disturbed it.

Gazzab

21,583 posts

306 months

Monday 1st October 2012
quotequote all
Ps thanks for the kiss..!

vervecroft99

Original Poster:

12 posts

170 months

Monday 1st October 2012
quotequote all
have checked on this and the silver key is fine wiring is fine immobiliser is disabled due to fuel pump kicking in yeah?

Gazzab

21,583 posts

306 months

Monday 1st October 2012
quotequote all
vervecroft99 said:
have checked on this and the silver key is fine wiring is fine immobiliser is disabled due to fuel pump kicking in yeah?
Yep I think so!
Have you tried holding in the starter button for a minute?
Have you tested the starter?
Have you tried bumping it?
Will jump leads give you an earth?

greenracing

259 posts

195 months

Monday 1st October 2012
quotequote all
The negative lead goes from the battery down to a stud that is welded to the chassis. You should be able to see the stud by turning the steering to full right lock and looking into the passenger front wheel arch at the rer of the wheel. There should be another cable that goes from the same stud onto the engine to earth that as well.

vervecroft99

Original Poster:

12 posts

170 months

Monday 1st October 2012
quotequote all
Have tried battery pack and also jumping it off another car, when I press the ignition button I don't get lights on the dash just hear the fuel pump priming

gruffalo

8,100 posts

250 months

Monday 1st October 2012
quotequote all
Open the boot and unplug the ignition control box on top of the fuel tank, leave it a few seconds and then plug it back in and try again.

Tanguero

4,535 posts

225 months

Monday 1st October 2012
quotequote all
Connect the earths as above before messing about with control boxes.

spitfire4v8

4,021 posts

205 months

Monday 1st October 2012
quotequote all
Connect the earths before all that power starts finding it's way back down wires it shouldn't, or trying to earth through the throttle cable or something else.

bionicjim

473 posts

163 months

Monday 1st October 2012
quotequote all
Have you checked the inursher switch
It should be top left behind the fuel tank
Mine is very sencertive I kerb mine at speed and the switch triped

vervecroft99

Original Poster:

12 posts

170 months

Monday 1st October 2012
quotequote all
Cheers guys will try all these tomorrow and report back, is the inertia switch easy to locate?

Tanguero

4,535 posts

225 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
Its not the inertia switch. The fuel pump wouldn't be running if it was. Do not even try to start it untill you are sure that the earth connections are right - something will get damaged.

The fuel pump doesn't earth through the chassis which is why it runs and nothing else works.

The battery -ve should connect to the chassis earth point in the nearside wheel arch, as should the engine earth strap and another earth lead that goes up to an earth point behind the dashboard.

There is anither earth point (for the ECU and lights etc) at the front off side chassis rail. Check that too!

Get the earthing sorted out first and the chances are it will be fine.

vervecroft99

Original Poster:

12 posts

170 months

Wednesday 3rd October 2012
quotequote all
Checked all earthing issues and all seem fine, unplugged ignition control for few seconds and plugged it back in. Still no joy, had a battery pack on battery and again fuel pump priming but no lights on dash when black button pressed.

Is a thin wire coming from positive terminal on battery that is no longer connected to anything also, any ideas? Cheers for help guys, the car was starting fine after smash and now won't start at all so confused.

Tanguero

4,535 posts

225 months

Wednesday 3rd October 2012
quotequote all
If you are not getting any dashboard lights with the ignition on then it sounds rather like the ECU is not getting power.

The wiring diagrams are available here, I would be checking the ECU earth (drivers side front of the chassis on mine) and power supply as a starting point. Possibly also worth checking the starter solenoid feed (thin wire into a large grey connector on the starter) while someone presses the start button, but it does sound more like an ECU power issue.

I don't suppose the body shop can tell you what they disconnected?

Gazzab

21,583 posts

306 months

Wednesday 3rd October 2012
quotequote all
Try opening the ECU?

RUSSELLM

6,002 posts

271 months

Wednesday 3rd October 2012
quotequote all
vervecroft99 said:
have checked on this and the silver key is fine wiring is fine immobiliser is disabled due to fuel pump kicking in yeah?
Are all the other electrics OK... Headlights, interior lights, horn etc.... ?

Also, doesn't the immobiliser have 3 relays built in.... Ignition, starter motor & fuel pump ?

vervecroft99

Original Poster:

12 posts

170 months

Wednesday 3rd October 2012
quotequote all
really appreciate the help guys am a complete notice at all this electrics stuff. i will go up sunday and have a look at the ecu, where will the unit be located its a 1999 4.5 ajp and also can you give me a bit more detail about what i am looking for?

the battery is flat so not getting any other functions no doors, windows, lights, nothing other than fuel pump kicking in when plug battery back in. this sound like the ecu? like i said no idea what this wire is coming off the positive terminal and cant understand why it worked and now doesnt. i have had damage to front drivers side wishbone done.

Gazzab

21,583 posts

306 months

Wednesday 3rd October 2012
quotequote all
If a cerb battery is anything less than good health then electrics play havo.
Anyway the ecu is in passenger footwell, behind carpet section at passenger feet. Check connections and open the silver box if needed.

DJR 7

1,413 posts

281 months

Wednesday 3rd October 2012
quotequote all
Ignition relay? Big black one. Mine went a couple of months ago.
D