Help! Start issue.
Discussion
Since before I bought it, my car has had an intimittent start issue. It's never been a problem before - you simply locked it, then unlocked it once or twice (on the assumption it was immobiliser-related) and then it magically dissapeared.
Unfortunately, it's now become a permanent issue.
I suppose that's a good thing as it should allow me to diagnose the fault properly. Symptoms are:
On key-on you can hear something (the fuel pump I presume) whirring as normal and the lights come on in the dash.
When you go to start there's nothing - no attempt to crank. The lights in the dash dim slightly, as if current is being drawn somewhere, but it's otherwise dead.
Unfortunately, there's a second issue too! I don't think the start problem is anything to do with the battery as it started perfectly thirty seconds before the restart failed (it stalled in between, but that may well have been my fault). However I thought I'd try the booster pack I have, just in case. I went to open the boot and, although I could hear the solenoid clicking the boot is jammed. My OH was cramming stuff in there 5 minutes beforehad and she had a bit of a job closing it. It now appears to have jammed. Any suggestions for getting it open?
Ah well... All good fun.
Unfortunately, it's now become a permanent issue.
I suppose that's a good thing as it should allow me to diagnose the fault properly. Symptoms are:
On key-on you can hear something (the fuel pump I presume) whirring as normal and the lights come on in the dash.
When you go to start there's nothing - no attempt to crank. The lights in the dash dim slightly, as if current is being drawn somewhere, but it's otherwise dead.
Unfortunately, there's a second issue too! I don't think the start problem is anything to do with the battery as it started perfectly thirty seconds before the restart failed (it stalled in between, but that may well have been my fault). However I thought I'd try the booster pack I have, just in case. I went to open the boot and, although I could hear the solenoid clicking the boot is jammed. My OH was cramming stuff in there 5 minutes beforehad and she had a bit of a job closing it. It now appears to have jammed. Any suggestions for getting it open?
Ah well... All good fun.
Crowbar?
Seriosuly I belive there is a manual way to get into the boot but cant remember how. It is listed in the bible.
Regards the starting issue it does sound like a solenoid problem or starter motor, they can be intermittent. Dont rule out the battery though I have seen similar problems that were battery related.
Peter
Seriosuly I belive there is a manual way to get into the boot but cant remember how. It is listed in the bible.
Regards the starting issue it does sound like a solenoid problem or starter motor, they can be intermittent. Dont rule out the battery though I have seen similar problems that were battery related.
Peter
Edited by ehasler on Thursday 17th July 10:45
Gerald-TVR said:
Hi Chris
Cant help with the starting issue but if your OH presses gently on the boot lid, to take pressure off the catch, and you press the switch it might just work.
Good luck
Norman
I'll give that a go. I did try various different methods of pushing the hinge ened (to try and pivot it) and gently pulling the underside of the free-end of the bootlid whilst a helpful passer by prodded the switch. I'll try again with a push rather than a pull!Cant help with the starting issue but if your OH presses gently on the boot lid, to take pressure off the catch, and you press the switch it might just work.
Good luck
Norman
I'll consult the bible when I get back.
On one occasion when this happened before, I left it for a minute or two and there was an audible click from the vague direction of the starter motor, so I had wondered if it was a sticky solenoid or somethig. The dimming of the dash lights (and a flicker of the speedo needle IIRC) made me wondered if the starter motor was drawing a stall current.
Time to get a voltmeter methinks!
I'd check the earths from the engine to start with - could be a dirty / corroded connection (remember to check both ends of the cable!).
On mine there's an earth each side just behind each front wheel (great eh!) on the diagonal tube I think.
Also check the connector in the steering column - the big melted one!
Chris
On mine there's an earth each side just behind each front wheel (great eh!) on the diagonal tube I think.
Also check the connector in the steering column - the big melted one!
Chris
Edited by Barkychoc on Thursday 17th July 11:31
Barkychoc said:
I'd check the earths from the engine to start with - could be a dirty / corroded connection (remember to check both ends of the cable!).
On mine there's an earth each side just behind each front wheel (great eh!) on the diagonal tube I think.
Also check the connector in the steering column - the big melted one!
Chris
Earth to the starter motor? I'll take a look.On mine there's an earth each side just behind each front wheel (great eh!) on the diagonal tube I think.
Also check the connector in the steering column - the big melted one!
Chris
Edited by Barkychoc on Thursday 17th July 11:31
I must admit on one occasion it did this and then started on a booster battery. I'd put it down to coincidnce (like I said, it use to be intermittent!) but now wondering whether that gave it enough 'oomph' to overcome a resistance somewhere.
Fear not, I have the bible and I'll take a look with regards to the boot. It's an S3 with an electronic release though, so I may be in trouble.
I have had similar with my dog of a day car all indications of a good battery but it was defective and hence couldn't provide that initial high current required to kick over the starter motor. I would start there if I was you (jumpo starting wouldn't work either because of the contact area of the jump lead croc clips. BTW it was also intermittent for a month or so before it went fully and depended upon how much I used the car.
Mark
Mark
likewise have had similar battery fault's. Turn the key and all the lights go on, next turn to fire up the starter motor and all goes dead !
Internals of the battery broken down, not enough to prevent it reading a healthy voltage on the voltmeter when under no load. But draw a heavy current and it effectively shorted out...
Internals of the battery broken down, not enough to prevent it reading a healthy voltage on the voltmeter when under no load. But draw a heavy current and it effectively shorted out...
Well, I've sort of fixed both faults.
My OH is sort of a closet-hippie and she just happened to have one of those sort of surf board shaped incense stick holders in the garage. They have a very smooth surface and a slight lip on the end which makes an excellent tool for assisting an S-Series bootlid without angering the paintwork!
Once into the bootlid I found the jump leads and the booster battery that were in there and it started with a boost. I suppose there is a small possibility that this was a coincidence again (as I said, it was intermittent at first), but I spent a lot of time playing with it on Wednesday to no avail and it just seems a little bit too convenient. So, it seems to be an intermittent rise in resistance somewhere - a dodgy earth I presume.
I just went out for a blast (to get a bit of charge in the battery, officer) at the time, but I'll take a look at the starter motor wiring over the weekend.
Thanks for your advice gents.
My OH is sort of a closet-hippie and she just happened to have one of those sort of surf board shaped incense stick holders in the garage. They have a very smooth surface and a slight lip on the end which makes an excellent tool for assisting an S-Series bootlid without angering the paintwork!
Once into the bootlid I found the jump leads and the booster battery that were in there and it started with a boost. I suppose there is a small possibility that this was a coincidence again (as I said, it was intermittent at first), but I spent a lot of time playing with it on Wednesday to no avail and it just seems a little bit too convenient. So, it seems to be an intermittent rise in resistance somewhere - a dodgy earth I presume.
I just went out for a blast (to get a bit of charge in the battery, officer) at the time, but I'll take a look at the starter motor wiring over the weekend.
Thanks for your advice gents.
Edited by Chris71 on Friday 18th July 09:02
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