Thread: Intermittent DEAD key on start.

We may need some more information to help us help you.
When you said "won't go" do you mean cranks but not start or not crank at all?
If the dash light come on and it's not cranking my money is on the starter solenoid.
A quick look in The Good Oil will find a thread with a tutorial if you are a DIY person.
Don't forget to check the battery terminals and earth wire first.

Cheers, Kyle.

I have heard of D1's doing the funny ignition thing, but never a D2 ?

Cheers Allen for the quick response.


So I have normal lights when I turn the key past accessory.

Then it wont turn over....

Couple more trys.. Then bingo..

Hi, first of all check the small lucar connector on the starter solenoid cos it used to be loosened... then make sure that the main feed wire on the starter is not corroded too.... as said it could be worn contacts within the solenoid but then usually a loud click occures when you try to crank it.

could be a dodgy starter relay too or the ignition switch to make tricks... some tests are necessary...if these simple contact issues are ruled out and still no joy we'll speak again

If it is not "clicking" when you try to start, and is auto, it may be xyz position switch a tad out of whack. Check by jiggling the selector in park and try again.

If the problem is not solved check the multiplug for the xyz switch, its located just above it. I had similar symptoms a while back. After a lot of investigation it was traced to a loose wire in the back of the plug. This wire was the one that told the ecu the auto was in Park or Neutral, if that signal doesn't get to the ecu it won't start, just stays dead. Firmly pushing the wire back into the plug fixed the problem.

Mine does this occasionally as well. Have a close look at the dash when you turn the key to the point when the dash lights up. The thing I have noticed when it does it is that I get all dash lights with the exception of the glow plugs. When I hit start nothing.
It seem to be related to the imobilizer because if I remove key from ignition and do a quick lock and unlock with keypad and then restart it works every time.
The key to spotting it is the glow plug light. If your lights up and still won't start then it's a different problem.