Won't start - any suggestions?

[Cavey]

Having returned to the fold this week with the purchase of a lovely Griff 500 I headed out to the the garage this morning to start a 'proper' clean and the old girl has announced her TVR-ness by refusing to start. Battery is OK but have double checked by putting jump leads on from other car - still no joy.

The fuel pump is running when the key gets position II so all seems well there but turn the key again and absolutely nothing happens, maybe a contact in the ignition barrel is dodgy?

Bit of a Luddite on electricals and mechanicals I'm afraid, but any help gratefully received!

Martin

[Barreti]

You have a 100amp fuse somewhere in the 500 Griffiths - down on the lower chassis rails I think.
I'd be trying to find that and check it thoroughly. They have a tendency to just crack so it's not obviously knackered, so inspect it thoroughly.

[QBee]

If it is not turning over at all, not even the slightest groan, it's not likely to be the 100 amp fuse under the car. That stops the alternator charging the battery, so the battery would be low, but not silent. Especially if it wouldn't jump start either.

There is an 80amp fuse in a black holder in the knitting near the battery. If that has failed then not a lot will be happening.
Another thought is the ignition immobilser circuit. Try locking and unlocking the car to reset it.
And then it might the starter solenoid.
Or a sticky starter.
Or a bad or loose earth on the starter circuit.
Finally, you could be right about the ignition switch.

[Cavey]

Thanks guys, had tried the lock/unlock routine already. Qbee forgive my ignorance but what will that 80A fuse look like? I have the knitting out as I type...

[QBee]

Sorry, been eating lunch. Black plastic fuse holder about 1-2 inches long, metal blade fuse inside. I will photograph mine in a minute. Unbolt the fuse and take it out to make sure it isn't cracked.

[QBee]

Right. It's in the passenger footwell, yes, but not in the tangled rope of wires and relays. It is high up at the back and to the right of the fuse board, in a single cable protected by black plastic. My car has had the battery moved to the boot, so use your imagination.. I had to reach up behind the carpet and pull the wire down to see it. That's the bottom right corner of the fuse board you can see

The fuse holder looks like this:




And the fuse itself looks like this when you open the holder:

[Cavey]

Thanks, really helpful. Found it tucked behind the battery, and is fine. Will give the starter a bang next, can you tell me roughly where underneath the car it is?

[Cavey]

Success! Managed to get a long spanner down onto the starter, one tap and we're away. Thanks for the replies chaps.

[QBee]

Good news fella. For those thinking "WTF" my photos have posted upside down.....thanks to photosnap combined with iPhone. They were the right way up leaving me.....