The strangest thing.....

[Fez1974]

I got off the train this evening and walked to my car in the car park. Just about to jump into the car and an oldish guy (mid 50's) stopped me asked how reliable the TVR was as he was keen on them. I said great, no problems, never let me down, get yourself one. After saying goodbye I thought to myself, be funny if it wouldn't start now. Guess what, dead as a dodo.

Pump primed, fuel guage registered, all warning lights on, but when the key was turned not a single turn over, click or noise of any sort. When i turned the key back there was a 2 sec buzz coming from behind the stereo but I'd only hear it in this situation due to the engine not runnng. Anyway, tried it for 15mins then rang the AA. 50mins later the guys turned up, turned the key and it roared into life. What's all that about then??? The AA man thought it was a sticky starter motor, but also pointed out that it looked new. Car is a 97 400. Anybody else experience a moody car, is he female?

Its either a lose connection on the ignition / immobiliser or startermotor.

Any help appreciated because I'm worried that i'm going to get stuck next time I do my next bank job. I need to raid banks just to afford this car.

Cheers

Mark

[colinrob]

Leave it running outside the bank!!!!!!!

[V8 Archie]

That's twice I've read this! I've answered on the other side.

[IPAddis]

I'd suggest either melted wire between ignition and starter, corroded earth wire from engine to driver's side wheelarch or corroded terminals on the starter. Turned out to be a combination of all three on my car.

Dying starters tend to play up when hot.

Ian A.

[duke thrust]

I had something very similar - turned out to be a dirty connection on the starter motor trigger. There's the fat positive cable that goes to feed the main starter but also a much smaller wire that feeds the solenoid. On mine it's a normal spade connector and a few off and ons cleaned it up nicely.

[Fez1974]

[quote=IPAddis]

Dying starters tend to play up when hot.

quote]

This is what has confused me as the car had been standing for 11hrs so the starter was stone cold.

Did you guys, when your starters had gone, get any noise at all out of them. I expect the odd click atleast. Not total silence.

Mark

[Marki]

[quote=Fez1974
Did you guys, when your starters had gone, get any noise at all out of them. I expect the odd click atleast. Not total silence.

Mark[/quote]

Im no expert but the silence would make me think it was a bad connection , i would hope for a feeble click at least

[full_chat]

Mine did this for the first time a month or so back, after scratching my head and having read from previous postings years ago, I rolled the car in gear a few inches and it freed up the starter and it then started on the key.

So it seems like I've got to check the connectors on the starter motor!

[IPAddis]

full_chat said:

Mine did this for the first time a month or so back, after scratching my head and having read from previous postings years ago, I rolled the car in gear a few inches and it freed up the starter and it then started on the key. So it seems like I've got to check the connectors on the starter motor!

According to RAC man, rolling it forward in gear only works if the starter is stuck and cannot engage with the flywheel. If this is the case, you would expect some sort of click and drop in voltage as the starter tries to engage.

If the solenoid isn't firing (either because it's stuck or it's no getting any voltage down the trigger wire), you get no drop in voltage and no sound.

Ian A,

[Fez1974]

Yep...Its all leading to connections. Better get my emery cloth out this weekend.

Thanks for all the input