Okay, now I'm fed up. Need help - please

[TT Tim]

So, for the second time in a month the Cerb' lets me down, leaving me no alternative but to call out the AA yet again.

This time it refused to start, I'd worked out that it was electrical at the starter but that was as far as I'd got not having any tools in the car.

After sitting in Tesco car park for 2.5 hrs the AA guy eventally turned up, that was after a call from another AA patrolman asking where I was as he was in Tescos car park, only problem was I was in Ashford, Kent and he was in Ashford, Middlesex! Aghhhh

Anyway back to the story, we rigged yet another fly lead, this time from the starter motor to the battery so I could get home.

So, my problem is electrical. between the button on the dash and the starter motor, the button, when pushed primes the fuel pump, but that's it, so does anyone know what I need to look for or does anyone have the PDF of the electrial section fo the workshop manual that they feel like emailing of putting on my FTP site for me? - PLEASE

Tim <--- in a sinking pit of desperation and perspiration!

edited because I can't spell!


>> Edited by TT Tim on Tuesday 13th September 15:38

[speed8]

Does it always happen or is it fairly random?

If it happens again keep the button held down, maybe for a couple of minutes. See if it starts. Have you checked the black boxes in the boot. Sometimes one or two contacts have a habit of burning out. Some people have hard wired directly to the board rather than using a connector.

[Extra 300 Driver]

I had this and a quick reset of the starter ECU cleared it.

[kojak]

Have you been messing around in the fuse box?

[TT Tim]

Never had this problem before, car was fine, always starts without a hitch.

Pulled into Tesco, jumped out to go to the cash machine and then when I got back in pressed the started button...

... started turned briefly but didn't catch, so I pressed it again and...

...nothing, other than the FP priming.

I've done a lot of messing about in the moot of late, what with my recent wiper control box problem, but I've been out and about since then.

So, how so you reset the Starter ECU, is it the one marked Ignition and is it a case of unplugging it? If so I've already done that and also opened it up but couldn't see any obvious damage, but the Wiper control box was like that and that was duff!

What next guys?

Thanks

Tim

[Extra 300 Driver]

As it’s an intermittent fault its going to be a pain to find, unless you can replicate it. Then you are into resistance checks and all sorts, not fun.

[TT Tim]

It's not intermittant, this is the first time it's happened and it's still bu**ered as I got the car home by hotwiring the starter motor.

Tim

[Extra 300 Driver]

TT Tim said:

It's not intermittant, this is the first time it's happened and it's still bu**ered as I got the car home by hotwiring the starter motor. Tim

Ah ok, sorry. Thought there was history with this.

Do you have another Cerbera owner near by who you could 'borrow' a starter ECU from?

[TT Tim]

Extra 300 Driver said:

TT Tim said: It's not intermittant, this is the first time it's happened and it's still bu**ered as I got the car home by hotwiring the starter motor. Tim Ah ok, sorry. Thought there was history with this. Do you have another Cerbera owner near by who you could 'borrow' a starter ECU from?

No problem Nick, the starter ECU... is this the box with ignition on it in the boot? I'm confused :S

I know that Olly lives quite close and has been kind enough to offer his help with the ECU software before but I've never met him. The guys at Walldonway were kind enough to loan me a Wiper Control Box to check last time.

Tim

[Extra 300 Driver]

TT Tim said:

Extra 300 Driver said: TT Tim said: It's not intermittant, this is the first time it's happened and it's still bu**ered as I got the car home by hotwiring the starter motor. Tim Ah ok, sorry. Thought there was history with this. Do you have another Cerbera owner near by who you could 'borrow' a starter ECU from? No problem Nick, the starter ECU... is this the box with ignition on it in the boot? I'm confused :S I know that Olly lives quite close and has been kind enough to offer his help with the ECU software before but I've never met him. The guys at Walldonway were kind enough to loan me a Wiper Control Box to check last time. Tim

Where are you in Kent? I am in essex, you can have a go with my one but if it fries its up to you!

[TT Tim]

That's very kind Nick, I'm nearly as far south as you can get before falling off the edge! About 20 mins from the coast.

I find it very hard to believe that I've blown two control boxes in a month.

I've disconnected that battery at the moment to reset the ECUs, will see if that makes any difference.

Tim

[Extra 300 Driver]

Near Lydd?

[TT Tim]

Nope, other side of the M20 - Brook, just outside Ashord.

Ahh, I see form your profile your involved in aviation - hense the Lydd reference.

Tim

[olly]

Tim - drop me a mail through my profile & I'll give you my mobile number.

More than happy to meet up/loan a black box. I'm working nights at the moment so am sleeping during the day, but if a coffee/chat is involved over Cerbs, I'm sure I can stay up a bit longer in the morning (will be at home from about 8:30 tomorrow morning (2mins drive from Tesco's/10? mins walk) & leaving home at 18:30 tomorrow night)......

Sounds to me like it could be an immobilizer issue though ?

[RUSSELLM]

see if my reply here helpswww.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=159870&f=6&h=0&hw=starter

[TT Tim]

Just to close this thread I though I'd let you know what the problem turned out to be...

...a fuse! A bk••dy 40A fuse tucked away befind the main engine ECU in the passenger's footwell.

I found it when taking my ECU out to try my new laptop lead and hey-presto, all working fine now.

Feel a bit of a muppet after waiting hours for the AA and then pulling out all the immobiliser and taking that apart etc. etc. only for it to be a fuse - not only that a fue that I had plenty of spares for in the boot!

Hey ho, we all live and learn, at least it's one less thing to worry Austec about next week.

Tim