Topic

Stuff that new age thinking malarkey....it doesn't work.

13.8V across battery terminals this morning after being on charge overnight.

Still didn't start though.
Got my pushbike out now instead...8 miles in 28 mins - not bad!
Saved on fuel and got some exercise as well for free.

Just trying to think logically here.

When was the last time it started OK?

Was it before you were in the engine compartment? Before you changed or moved anything?

Just wondering if you might have disturbed any connections etc.

Failed distributor condenser? Starter motor connections? Starter motor Jammed? Starter motor bushes shot?

No dizzy on a TF and he says it is turning over OK.

It's either down to fuel or spark as I doubt you have lost compression all of a sudden.

Take out a couple of plugs after cranking. Do they smell of petrol?

cjj wrote: wrote:

Just trying to think logically here.
When was the last time it started OK?
Was it before you were in the engine compartment?
Before you changed or moved anything?
Just wondering if you might have disturbed any connections etc.

Thanks Clive,
I'd had it for the day (instead of Paula) and it started fine, i drove it to work & back stopping off at Halfords for the grease, sprayed it at the boot hinges, both door locks (from the rear door edge) and hinges in Halfords car park as it was empty and i could open the doors fully. I then drove home. later i drove the car out of the garage and around the corner of our road to the front of the house (garage is detached and at the rear side of the house). I washed it, then came to start it to put it back, that's when it failed.
After charging overnight and attempting to start this morning, it almost fired, but then back to cranking over. you could smell fuel from the exhaust.

I read on another site about ECU faults maybe culprit - any truth in this?
I ask because i had my ECU repaired earlier this year (Chip for horn sticking on) and while it was there i had all relays replaced as well as a precaution. Now wondering if I could have a faulty relay?

Edit: Just remembered I saw this light on this morning:


14 - EPAS Warning light
Would this stop the car from firing up?

Not too sure on the ECU. You could send it away to be tested but I would suspect water in a connector going by your description of events.

One possibility, but a bit of a pain, is to go round all connections in the engine bay, including the ECU, and spray WD40 into the connectors to disperse any moisture.

An easier method is to see if you can get hold of some sort of heater/blower and direct the hot air into the engine bay and leave over night. This should be enough to warm the area through and allow any collected water to evaporate.

Not saying it is 100% this, but I can't think what else would cause this after washing the car.

Not the cam belt let go????

Hope not!!

Thinking back over my steps now - I also gave the clutch pedal a squirt of grease too as it was creaking.

Almost fired and stink of petrol sounds like flooded. Pull the inertia switch out to prevent further flooding. Crank the engine. If flooding was the problem it will eventually start up and then peter out from no fuel. Push the inertia switch back in and start normally.

Got soaked today on the pushbike...still, got some exercise.

Just been down to the garage.
Car has been on charge overnight and all day now, still showing 13.8V

I've not long added another horn myself (thanks DD) but no joy when replacing the fuse under the bonnet.

Somebody said to me..."have you checked F23 fuse its a 15amp?"
I've not got any spare fuses that size lying around but pulled fuse 23 anyway, it looked ok but I replaced it with the fuse for passenger side window (also 15A).

THE CAR STARTED FIRST TIME!!!

Revved it a bit and let it idle - perfect.

Not trusting that was the end of it, i put the fuses back how they were and tried it again, turned over but wouldn't fire again.
So now I replaced fuse 23 with the window fuse again...and it still won't start.

So i'm back on the bike for another soaking tomorrow.

David Aiketgate wrote: wrote:

Almost fired and stink of petrol sounds like flooded. Pull the inertia switch out to prevent further flooding. Crank the engine. If flooding was the problem it will eventually start up and then peter out from no fuel. Push the inertia switch back in and start normally.

I think I've found the black rubber topped switch thingy in the boot (on the passenger side).
Seems easy enough to push down but how do you pull it out?

When you put the window fuse back in did the window work??