Help - car won't start
02-18-2009, 12:56 PM
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Help - car won't start
OK this is an embarrassing one... Just took the car to be MOTed.
It failed because it needs license plate bulb and the headlights have an "adversely affected beam image".
Anyway... forget all that.
I jump back in the car.... and it won't start. Dashboard all lights up correctly, but when you turn the key the DME relay clicks - then nothing. Engine doesn't turn over.
I've replaced the DME relay with a spare which I know works. Still nothing.
Double check the battery terminals and connected a battery pack. Still nothing.
If anyone can think of things to check I'd love to hear them.
Thanks
Rich
It failed because it needs license plate bulb and the headlights have an "adversely affected beam image".
Anyway... forget all that.
I jump back in the car.... and it won't start. Dashboard all lights up correctly, but when you turn the key the DME relay clicks - then nothing. Engine doesn't turn over.
I've replaced the DME relay with a spare which I know works. Still nothing.
Double check the battery terminals and connected a battery pack. Still nothing.
If anyone can think of things to check I'd love to hear them.
Thanks
Rich
02-18-2009, 01:19 PM
#3
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Yeah, it's a pretty new Optima battery. Also, I connected up a jump-start battery pack, but it didn't have any effect.
It has gone flat a few times, but I'd have thought with the battery pack, it should have worked.
It has gone flat a few times, but I'd have thought with the battery pack, it should have worked.
02-18-2009, 02:17 PM
#5
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Semi resolved
Hi chaps.
OK... semi resolved. It's the starter solenoid.
An RAC man (UK recovery service) popped out to take a look at the car, jacked it up, removed the engine tray (don't look at me like that... Yes... I still have the tray in place
) and gave the starter solenoid the gentlest of taps with a mallet. Hey presto, it fires into life.
I've just been reading the posts about how horrible the job is of replacing the starter/solenoid. Mine is a tiptronic, so it's hideous to get at apparently.
OK... semi resolved. It's the starter solenoid.
An RAC man (UK recovery service) popped out to take a look at the car, jacked it up, removed the engine tray (don't look at me like that... Yes... I still have the tray in place
) and gave the starter solenoid the gentlest of taps with a mallet. Hey presto, it fires into life.I've just been reading the posts about how horrible the job is of replacing the starter/solenoid. Mine is a tiptronic, so it's hideous to get at apparently.
02-18-2009, 02:42 PM
#6
Professor of Pending Projects
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
You might also want to check the cable to the starter... I had a problem with mine where I even replaced the starter only to find that the problem was the cable (positive terminal at the starter end). The wires inside the cable were broken, only a few threads holding on to the terminal. Not enough juice getting to the starter. I remove the terminal, clamped a new one and presto...
02-18-2009, 08:22 PM
#7
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Will do Jaime.
I guy from the recovery service did do a quick voltage drop test using jump-leads
straight from the battery to close to the starter and saw a slight drop but nothing
major. Obviously I'll give them a good check over when I'm under there.
Cheers
Rich
Now I wonder if I can buy just the solenoid and if it's easier than doing the whole starter.
I guy from the recovery service did do a quick voltage drop test using jump-leads
straight from the battery to close to the starter and saw a slight drop but nothing
major. Obviously I'll give them a good check over when I'm under there.
Cheers
Rich
Now I wonder if I can buy just the solenoid and if it's easier than doing the whole starter.