stuck in garage

[Chauch]

I would still try jump starting it. Mine was doing all of the above but nothing from the ignition. New battery cured it all....

[Hut49]

agreed - new battery time. Four years is taking liberties, considering what a new battery costs (in relation to say a tankful of VPower) and the hassle when they choose their moment to roll on their back

[Pupp]

dc400 said:

help please. not started car for one week .went out today ignition on fuel pump primed , turned key and nothing. i normaly us car daily never had any probs before ,this is what happens when you brag to someone how reliable the old girl has been over the last 4 years .headlights are as bright as usual so think battery ok .any help please

So called 'hot start' issue and/or immobiliser... loads of coverage on here

[Chauch]

Mine was only 2 years old as well - they do tend to get through them. Good luck!!

[nikman]

Pupp said:

dc400 said:

help please. not started car for one week .went out today ignition on fuel pump primed , turned key and nothing. i normaly us car daily never had any probs before ,this is what happens when you brag to someone how reliable the old girl has been over the last 4 years .headlights are as bright as usual so think battery ok .any help please

So called 'hot start' issue and/or immobiliser... loads of coverage on here

But it's not hot - it's cold from standing for a week. Don't think fuel pump would prime if it was an immobiliser problem. More likely bad earthing or starter solonoid stuck and needing a tap while someone else turns the key.

[dlkbs1]

Do you get the solenoid click when you try and start? On mine I have had a starter go and problems with a battery

The battery has to be absolutely spot on to turn an engine like we have in our motors. I know from experience and reading these forums some of the Chim's are prone to current drains and even with a new battery in after a week or so there might not be enough left to turn the engine even with reasonably bright headlights.

My car is garaged so I fitted an isolator switch and positioned it at the top of the footwell, If I leave it any length of time just switch that off and saves having to keep it on trickle charge.

One of these days I'll find out what is draining the battery.

[chim666]

dlkbs1 said:

Do you get the solenoid click when you try and start?

That's the important bit - if you don't hear a click from the solenoid when you try turning the engine over, then it is likely to be a stuck starter motor solenoid - sometimes fixed by a firm 'tap' on the starter motor from above using something like a jack handle fed down through the engine bay (search the forum, there's a couple of similar threads on here).

[Pupp]

nikman said:

Pupp said:

dc400 said:

help please. not started car for one week .went out today ignition on fuel pump primed , turned key and nothing. i normaly us car daily never had any probs before ,this is what happens when you brag to someone how reliable the old girl has been over the last 4 years .headlights are as bright as usual so think battery ok .any help please

So called 'hot start' issue and/or immobiliser... loads of coverage on here

But it's not hot - it's cold from standing for a week. Don't think fuel pump would prime if it was an immobiliser problem. More likely bad earthing or starter solonoid stuck and needing a tap while someone else turns the key.

Immobiliser 'cuts' three circuits, fuel pump, ign, and starter. The first two rarely cause problems as the loads are low, the last can be more temperamental as the currents passing through the circuitry are higher due to TVR omitting a crucial relay from the donor RR loom that is the one the 'hot start' mod introduces. That's why I said 'so-called', it doesn't just happen when hot.

[Pupp]

Suggest sticking a meter between the +'ve feed to the solenoid and earth, no current when the key is turned indicates a problem in the circuit. There is a connector in the loom around the steering column that can also play up

[Chauch]

Thought it might be and glad it was something that simple....