Discussion
I had a flat battery yesterday and got it charged using the wife's car, however halfway to work the car started to splutter and died (as if the battery was losing all charge again). When some kind gent helped to restore a battery charge, the car failed to turn over as if immobilised. I've tried the 5-digit emergency disarm code which appears to do the right thing (get the right lights flashing and doors unlocking), yet when I turn the key it simply sits there. I can hear the fuel pump priming ready for ignition, but nothing else.
Any help would be really appreciated - could it be something really silly like a dodgy relay/fuse (I have messed around a little with these already)? Reason I ask is that the car got soaked coming back from France a few weeks back and the aircon fuse had to be replaced.
Any help would be really appreciated - could it be something really silly like a dodgy relay/fuse (I have messed around a little with these already)? Reason I ask is that the car got soaked coming back from France a few weeks back and the aircon fuse had to be replaced.
Can't reply to you via blackberry so here is what I wrote; My issue was a relay supposedly. Don't personally believe that tho. As a get me by I got a piece of wire from starter relay under clam and linked it from pin 87 to starter directly. Or get a jump lead and connect one end to starter motor lug and strike other end onto positive on battery. Starter is on lhs near cabin under clam. Battery on rhs. Will prove if its starter issue
Ok. Found the relays and removed them (despite being glued down with some yellowy gunk). They all look fine on the face of it - bump started the car and it runs fine when it finally got going. I tried the battery to starter motor connection with a jump lead but still no life - guess that means the starter motor is knackered.
NobleGuy said:
Ok. Found the relays and removed them (despite being glued down with some yellowy gunk). They all look fine on the face of it - bump started the car and it runs fine when it finally got going. I tried the battery to starter motor connection with a jump lead but still no life - guess that means the starter motor is knackered.
Correct. When this happened to mine the 'direct' replacement SM was marginally longer and although it fitted it was v close up to the petrol tank. Good guys at LN glued some neoprene between the tank and SM and sent my original back to be refurbed and later replaced. NobleGuy said:
Ok. Found the relays and removed them (despite being glued down with some yellowy gunk). They all look fine on the face of it - bump started the car and it runs fine when it finally got going. I tried the battery to starter motor connection with a jump lead but still no life - guess that means the starter motor is knackered.
If you definately have a charge in the battery then yep, looks like starter is fubarredSorry to keep bumping this, but I had some success. I tried the battery connection direct to the starter and got a spark. I was worried the bank of 4 relays under the clam behind the driver might have some crap in them affecting the connection, so I took off the wheel arch cover so I could get a better look and maybe hoover some grime out. I then found the set of 4 fuses hidden away with the big fat 80 amp (main I guess) fuse nearby. Swapped the 4 with new fuses and hey presto, started first time. 
Does anybody know what those 4 fuses control, and what the bank of 4 relays is for?
I also noticed in the footwell 2 fuses (one red one twice as long as the one sat directly next to it) in a bank separate from the main panel. But the owner's manual doesn't mention their purpose.
Does anybody know what those 4 fuses control, and what the bank of 4 relays is for?
I also noticed in the footwell 2 fuses (one red one twice as long as the one sat directly next to it) in a bank separate from the main panel. But the owner's manual doesn't mention their purpose.
NobleGuy said:
Sorry to keep bumping this, but I had some success. I tried the battery connection direct to the starter and got a spark. I was worried the bank of 4 relays under the clam behind the driver might have some crap in them affecting the connection, so I took off the wheel arch cover so I could get a better look and maybe hoover some grime out. I then found the set of 4 fuses hidden away with the big fat 80 amp (main I guess) fuse nearby. Swapped the 4 with new fuses and hey presto, started first time.
Does anybody know what those 4 fuses control, and what the bank of 4 relays is for?
I also noticed in the footwell 2 fuses (one red one twice as long as the one sat directly next to it) in a bank separate from the main panel. But the owner's manual doesn't mention their purpose.
One of the relays does control the fuel pump. not sure which one though. also one of the fuses does control the starting action - i.e. without it if you turn the key nothing happens. I suspect that the fuses are corroded give them a good clean - or if you replaced them just clean the contacts. Also there is a 2 pin plug going away from the relays which controls the fuel pump - this can get corroded easily and will stop the fuel pump from working (this is really difficult to get to.Does anybody know what those 4 fuses control, and what the bank of 4 relays is for?
I also noticed in the footwell 2 fuses (one red one twice as long as the one sat directly next to it) in a bank separate from the main panel. But the owner's manual doesn't mention their purpose.
cheers
G.
in the clam the starter relay is second from left, not sure what the others do. With a direct connection from battery to starter it wont only spark it should just wind and wind and wind till you remove the power. your bypassing the relay etc. if you get a mate to start the car while you have your head buried in the clam you can hear the relay click in and out for the starter.
glad it sounds like you have sorted it tho.
glad it sounds like you have sorted it tho.
We noticed early on here in the US that the S.A. fuses were of poor quality and prone to failing for no reason. They are now all routinely changed by 1g when they arrive here (and by the owners who have earlier cars) to good old Buss fuses and the fuse issues have gone away here in the US. Would advise all UK owners to do the same.
I do love the car and I'm sure there's a good reason for having those fuses buried away from view, but I wish they'd let us know they were there at least in the manual. Couldn't believe it when I popped the cover off and found them sitting there - they didn't look in particularly bad nick either. At least it alive. Thanks for all the suggesstions.
Sorry to bump this yet again, but the battery appears to be dying on me after being charged. I'm assuming that the alternator has packed up, although this went only a year ago when I first got the car. Does anybody think this might be a more general electrical problem, or are the alternators prone to failure?
No. It's a real bummer as I've been away a bit over the last few months and haven't driven properly for ages. Expected the car to be dead last time I got back - it was perfectly fine (sluggish to wake up but fine once started). Left the keys in the ignition after testing and replacing a failed fuse for 4 days and killed it. Not been the same since.
NobleGuy said:
Sorry to bump this yet again, but the battery appears to be dying on me after being charged. I'm assuming that the alternator has packed up, although this went only a year ago when I first got the car. Does anybody think this might be a more general electrical problem, or are the alternators prone to failure?
I killed 3 alternators in a matter of months in a Capri. That was a loose wire to the alternator and it going on and off load and killing it.The battery is Barry Tucked then !
Once they fail, that's pretty much it in my experiance.
To give you an exmample : I picked mine up from the dealer ( who had it on a trickle charger ). After a week or so, after not driving it for a couple of days it was flat. I changed it up ( and blew a fuse on the bulk head ). Replaced the fuse. It started fine. Left it for an hour or so and it was flat as a fart again. New battery in, no problems at all ( that was 8 months ago ). It's not moved for the last 2 weeks and when I came to satrt it up it fired first time. Time for a new one plus the tricy task of fitting it.
Once they fail, that's pretty much it in my experiance.
To give you an exmample : I picked mine up from the dealer ( who had it on a trickle charger ). After a week or so, after not driving it for a couple of days it was flat. I changed it up ( and blew a fuse on the bulk head ). Replaced the fuse. It started fine. Left it for an hour or so and it was flat as a fart again. New battery in, no problems at all ( that was 8 months ago ). It's not moved for the last 2 weeks and when I came to satrt it up it fired first time. Time for a new one plus the tricy task of fitting it.
Fab! Unfortunately I can't get the wheel off with my crap tools, otherwise the battery change doesn't look as bad as I first thought. I assume it's the small panel off the bottom and slide out where the wheel should normally be.
Sorry for the numptyism - I assumed (wrongly by the sound of it) that if the battery was taking a charge successfully from another car (albeit dying fairly quickly) then it wasn't necessarily dead. I'm learning.....slowly!
Sorry for the numptyism - I assumed (wrongly by the sound of it) that if the battery was taking a charge successfully from another car (albeit dying fairly quickly) then it wasn't necessarily dead. I'm learning.....slowly!
Edited by NobleGuy on Friday 29th June 09:18
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