Won't Start

[Chimbat]

The pleasure of ownership is waning. After suffering the hot start problem and fitting the mod wise kit a couple of weeks ago, tried to start it today (not been used for 3 days) and it won't turn over ****. I have searched the forums and see many people have had this kind of fault - however any more diagnosis advice welcome:

It has a trickle charger and plenty of charge in the battery (lights nice & bright)
The fuel pump is priming
Ignition circuits seem to be on
I have tried whacking the starter motor with something heavy also rocking it in gear
I have checked all the fuses that relate to starting & ignition

My two suspects are the immobiliser and the starter solenoid or wiring between starter and chassis. Any suggestions on other things to check first or obvious ways to confirm where the fault is would be appreciated.

[Pau1]

Quickly go out and give the started motor a tap with a hammer. Use an extension bar to reach it. Worked for me last time. It'll put a smile back on your face if it works.

[Hut49]

Chimbat said:

....plenty of charge in the battery (lights nice & bright)

Did you measure the charge in the battery? Bright lights are not a good indicator that there's enough charge to turn this engine over. If you have an adequate charge in the battery and you've excluded a sticky solenoid, then I'd check the starter motor earth before going for other options.

[Chimbat]

Thanks guys - I have not checked the state of charge. I will do so tomorrow but unlikely to be a problem as it's a newish battery abd when it is in the garage it has an accumate charger connected to it. I have not excluded a sticky solenoid - tried tapping the motor with a long steel bar but no joy. It would be good to confirm that the iginition system is working before I go and get the starter off. I guess I should confirm where the feed to the starter motor solenoid leaves the cabin anc check it there, then at the motor. If thats all working and the starter is not kicking in I guess it must be the solenoid.

[mt10argyll]

Check the fuse on the hot start Mod

[GreenV8S]

Try holding the key in the cranking position for 30 seconds or so, sometimes if it's just gummed up it will eventually kick in. Next get somebody to hold it in the cranking position while you tap the starter with a broom handle or similar non-conducting thing - and try not to jump a mile if it starts! If you tap it with anything metal be *extremely* careful not to touch the terminals.

If all that fails you need to roll your sleeves up and get your volt meter out to see whether you're getting power to the solenoid.

[bigdods]

I had this when my battery was failing, there was no current getting to the starter. Its very easy to check though. Just attach jump leads to another car and try to start. If it fires up then it narrows it down to something like a knackered battery or earth problem.

At least if you try it and nothing happens you have eliminated one possible cause

[Chimbat]

Thanks for the additional suggestions. Didn't really have much time to look at it today although GreenV8S I did try your suggestion of holding the switch in the cranking position - not a sausage. Looks like it will be a proper sleeves rolled up job and not sure when I will be able to do that .

[5yearstobuyatvr]

Bet its the battery,dont be fooled by the lights,You need about 11v to start her up.

[David Beer]

At the kit, remove the thin red wire and put to the battery positive, if it turns over, the wiring is ok to the solenoid, if not, its before the kit,ie immobilser.

[Chimbat]

Thanks David that's helpful - probably should have tried that first. Do you or anyone else know where I can get a wiring diagram for Chimaeras circa 97. The bible has part of the wiring but its for an older Griffith and mine does not seem to be quite the same.

[edward1]

Do you get any clicking noise or indication of the starter making any attempt? I have a problem since fitting the mod wise kit (I must stress not a problem with the kit that works fine) that I occaisionally find it doesn't start and there is no attempt by the starter. I fnally traced my problem to the previously unused relay in the footwell that the kit utilises, having a loose connection. A quick fiddle with the wires into this normally sorts the problem. Sounds like Davids advice should help identify where the problem may be.

[TVR Pablo]

Interesting...I've had the precise same problem. Fitted the hot start kit (which does its job well) and have since had my first contact with the RAC in over 40,000 miles of ownership. I replaced the battery, so it's definitely not that, and the starter motor's nearly new. Fiddling with the wires or keeping trying mostly works. It's been suggested that it might be something shorting out against the ECU, but I'm thinking it's now probably more likely to be the relay mentioned by the last poster.

Thanks - this is a really helpful thread.

[Chimbat]

Some progress. Been a bit busy for a couple of weeks so not had time to look at this. I tried David Beers suggestion today and energised the hot start relay birect off the battery positive and the car started first try - ran perfectly. So I guess the problem is the feed from the ignition switch.

[David Beer]

Looks like you are in the "one in a hundred" bunch, where it is the immobiliser that gives up,when hot. Still, the relay should be there anyway, regardless of hot start problems or not.

[Mattcar]

I had the same problem once. Turned out to be the battery. I'm no expert, but even if lights etc are all working fine these engines take alot of juice to start. See if you can jump start it.

[Chimbat]

David, why do you think it's the immobiliser? The car was not hot at all when it last failed to start. I was thinking that is was proabably just a basic fault in the wiring from the steering column to the relay. In any event does anyone know where I can get some decent wiring information for a 97 Chimaera?

[Chelsea boy]

Had an identical problem, got a new battery £55 from lucas in Reading.

[David Beer]

Chimbat said:

David, why do you think it's the immobiliser? The car was not hot at all when it last failed to start. I was thinking that is was proabably just a basic fault in the wiring from the steering column to the relay. In any event does anyone know where I can get some decent wiring information for a 97 Chimaera?

I guess it could be wiring, but i do know of maybe 4 out of 400 done, where it was the immobiliser. You could trace the wiring from the ignition switch to the immobilser and then from it. I would take a wire from the ignition switch to the new relay, bypassing the immobiliser, just for checking. You still have the two remaining circuits from the immobiliser.

[TVR Pablo]

I've finally traced my problem, and it was in fact the immobiliser. Check it!