Help! Fuel pump primes, then nothing???

[russ_chim]

Hi,

Would be grateful for any help as my Chim won't start. The battery is strong (just replaced), the fuel pump primes as normal, but then nothing when you turn the key.

The car was running beautifully last Sunday, but got in to it today and nothing. The only thing is that it has been parked under a tree, is it likely that something has got blocked? As I said it has been running fine, but now is completely dead.

I'm not too mechanically minded, but don't want to wait until Tue to get out in it.

Cheers

Russ

[BLUETHUNDER]

dont you get anything when you turn it over or does it just click when you turn the key?

[GreenV8S]

Probably a starter motor problem, in which case it's worth holding the key in the 'starting' position for thirty seconds or so - sometimes it will eventually kick into life. Once it's started it's likely to get worse, the cure is to replace the starter motor and/or fit a ModWise upgrade to the loom.

There's also a chance that it is an immobiliser problem. If it still won't start, try arming/disarming it a few times.

[Kenny chim 4]

Sounds to me that the guilty party could well be the 100 amp fuse link. Have a look here:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=70748&f=8&h=0
Failing that, check all obvious electrical connectors.

[russ_chim]

Thanks for the advice. Even when the battery was flat I could still hear some noise from the starter motor like it was trying to do something with the small amount of charge it had. But this time there is no noise or click at all and the batter seems reasonably strong as the door opens, etc. So it could well be some sort of immobiliser issue as the light on the dash is flashing a bit irregular.

I guess Carl will be getting a call from me shortly!!

[russ_chim]

Kenny Chim,

I hadn't seen your reply when I posted my mail - I'll check that as well - sounds like a good possibility.

Cheers

[Ribol]

russ_chim said:

Thanks for the advice. Even when the battery was flat I could still hear some noise from the starter motor like it was trying to do something with the small amount of charge it had. But this time there is no noise or click at all and the batter seems reasonably strong as the door opens, etc. So it could well be some sort of immobiliser issue as the light on the dash is flashing a bit irregular.

Why not just run a wire from the positive side of the battery and flash it on to the small starter solenoid terminal. This will by pass the cranking/immobiliser side of things.
If it still does nothing it will start to look like a dead starter(assuming you have checked good earths etc).

[Kenny chim 4]

russ_chim said:

Even when the battery was flat I could still hear some noise from the starter motor like it was trying to do something with the small amount of charge it had.

Hmm, just posted this reply on the Griff forum- it could well be a starter motor problem due to it's proximity to the exhaust.
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=265140&f=9&h=0

>> Edited by Kenny chim 4 on Sunday 30th April 00:30

[russ_chim]

Bizarrely, but thankfully it fired up first time this morning. Sounded fine. Woould I be right in guessing that it probably is a sticking starter motor and should look to get it replaced/refurb ASAP?

Thanks

[WooHoo]

Could be the (in)famous 'hot start problem' (do a search for all the gory details), though clearly in this case your engine was not hot. That's not to say the starter solenoid can't be at fault though. Before you go replacing starters and so on, it might be worth seeing if the problem recurs and determining if current is getting to the motor at all when the car's not starting. Easiest way to do that is by turning on the headlights while trying to start, and seeing if they dim. If not, then the problem probably lies north of the actual starter, and as others have said could be immobiliser/wiring/solenoid related. Might then be worth considering the ModWise starter relay kit, which is pretty easy to fit and I can't recommend highly enough, as well as being a lot cheaper than a new starter.

Solenoid is unfortunately in a single unit with the starter motor, so if it is shot there seems little alternative but to replace the whole shebang. From your description of the problem though, it may well be that the cause lies somewhere else - I haven't heard tell of many solenoids sticking from cold...

Still, at least you're running again now!!

Andrew