Why won't she start!?

[albear]

I've only had my Cerb for 2 weeks, and last night when I went to start her up she let me down!

I turn off the immobilisers, press the start button once, wait a few seconds, then when I press and hold it in the ignition turns over a few times and then just stops. Whats even more worrying is all my electrics go a bit crazy, the MIL light flash up, as well as the Full beam light, and on my third attempt the passenger door opened.


Any idea's?

I read in the manual about the inertia switch, which lights up when I turn the ignition. What is it, what does it do?

Also I noticede a flashing green light on the central console by the ashtray for the first time last night...anyone know ehat it is?

Any help would be much appreciated.

[ridds]

Sounds liek teh battery's flat to me.

[davetherave1970]

albear said:

Also I noticede a flashing green light on the central console by the ashtray for the first time last night...anyone know ehat it is? Any help would be much appreciated.

As Ridds says, sounds like a flat batt to me.
As for the green LED.....this is the central locking button while inside the car. Stops others getting in while you're at the traffic lights. Although they'd need to know how to open the door in the first place!
Cerb electrics don't like completely flat batt's.

[ridds]

Mine was doing this yesterday.

Try to start, wipers come on and lights turn on.

Turn off, reset and try again once the battery is topped up.

[RUSSELLM]

Im in the low battery camp.

ooeerr

[kojak]

Me too.

[Tyre Smoke]

Me too, but would actually suggest battery fooked as well.

Invest in an Accumate, mate!

[albear]

cool, Brilliant cheers for your advice guys.

I actually had dreams about it all last night and they all ended in £££££ Bills!

I'll go buy one of these chargers at the weekend, and if I get it running again will go and get a new battery.

Is there anything I need to take into account when charging the battery? There isnt some form of special TVR method I need to do is there?

I was either going to get my missus car to jump start it, or buy one of these battery charger jobs.

Bonus question: Is there any specific way I should be starting the engine? I just press the button once, wait a few seconds, and then press it again to start? I'm not doing anything fundamentally wrong am I?

Apologies for all the dumb questions, but it's better to appear stupid for a week, than ignorant forever.

[Extra 300 Driver]

I was gonna say its your screen wash level, but seeing as I go with the flow, battery now!

Did you try jumping it?

[purpleheadedcerb]

My start routine is.

1) Immobiliser off from outside with the fob.
2) Get into car and press the black start button once. Some dash lights come on.
3) Press the fob button once more. The little red light in the stero cubby hole stops flashing, more dash lights come on and you can hear the fuel pump priming.
4) Press and hold the black start button until she fires up.

Scott


PS. It might be worth buying yourself a new battery. Fpr the sake of £70 at least you know you are starting from afresh. A knackered battery isn't going to be much use even with an optimate.

[NJW 77]

I had the same wipers/main beam (plus hazard warning lights etc) problem a few weeks ago, but the car would actually start. Turned out to be 3 or 4 fuses blown. If the car wont start then best look at the battery first...and get an Accumate pronto

[Tyre Smoke]

Jump start is fine, connect up the red lead to positive terminal in the battery, and the black lead to one of the airbox supports.

Same for a battery charger.

The Accumate only keeps your battery in good condition, not charges it.

Starting, I usually press the alarm fob until the red LED has stopped flashing under the dash then press the starter until she fires up.

Don't think there is a right or wrong way really. What's more important is not thrashing it until it has properly warmed up - I leave it until I see the temp guage drop slightly after the thermostat opens. It's more important to get the oil up to temp than the water, but it give a good indication.

[drdavewatford]

Same problem with my Tuscan. About to plug in the top up charger and hope that does the trick, otherwise it's a jump start....

Almost certain it's your battery, anyway - the combination of persistent cold and wet seems to have sent a few Tuscans that I'm aware of up the spout, and it's the battery every time.

Dr. D.

[speed8]

Like everyone else said it'll be the battery. Being left for a couple of weeks will probably drain it if the battery isn't in good condition.

If you've been using it regularly then it might be the fuse on it's way out meaning the battery isn't getting charged properly or maybe the battery is ed. A £1 fuse is cheaper to check with.

Tyre Smoke said:

Don't think there is a right or wrong way really. What's more important is not thrashing it until it has properly warmed up - I leave it until I see the temp guage drop slightly after the thermostat opens. It's more important to get the oil up to temp than the water, but it give a good indication.

Thing about waiting till the water temp gets up is like you said. the oil temp needs to be up too. After i fitted the oil gauge I noticed that it could take anything up to 10 miles, depending on roads, traffic, time of year, to get the oil up to temp after the water got up. I, personally, would give it a few more miles after you see the stat open before you give it big bananas.

[albear]

I know it's selfish but it makes me happy that Im not alone with this sort of problem.

I just had a look at those Accumate device's, and they look very good, where abouts can you get them from?

Also, how do I put a photo of her up here?

[simonsparrow]

Re. battery. I discovered a few weeks ago that after a week or early morning and late night driving to the local train station with everything on (lights, heaters, de-mist) was enough to drain the battery.

My flash lightweight AGM battery could still crank the engine over, but it wouldn't fire. Figuring that worst (ECU fault etc.) I thought I'd try a simple fix first - jump start. Sure enough it fired up. The ECU will need a certain voltage to work (9-12v I think) and although my battery was drained, it can still wind the starter motor over.

Re. starting. I press the black button once, wait for the fuel pump to finish priming and then crank the engine. But I don't think it really matters....

[albear]

Thats exactly what I've been doing!!

I've been driving 5 mins down the road to pick the GF up from the Train station everyday this week. Sitting in the carpark with lights/wiper/ac/radio on!

Thats the problem with coming on these forums...as soon as it went pear shaped last night I immediatly thought of all the worst stories Ive read from here!

I just know this cars going to end up giving me an ulcer!

[trooperiziz]

purpleheadedcerb said:

My start routine is. 1) Immobiliser off from outside with the fob. 2) Get into car and press the black start button once. Some dash lights come on. 3) Press the fob button once more. The little red light in the stero cubby hole stops flashing, more dash lights come on and you can hear the fuel pump priming. 4) Press and hold the black start button until she fires up. Scott PS. It might be worth buying yourself a new battery. Fpr the sake of £70 at least you know you are starting from afresh. A knackered battery isn't going to be much use even with an optimate.

Blimey. I turn off the immobiliser with the fob, get in the car, hold the black start button, drive away...

[Ratten]

Another options instead of the accumate is the solar number. Seems to have worked fine on mine! (also i'm on the street so would need an awwwwwfully long cable otherwise)

www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=47902&doy=9m12

[albear]

Here's the little minx that causes me so much grief.