Thread: Non-starting electrical problem

Pictures will allow us to determine the model. What engine has it got?

It has the 3.9 in it. I guess the question is do I use the original maunufacture date or the Aust registered date as the correct one?

The engine has 3.9 cast into the top of it?

If so, it's a D1.



Check the door handles.
D1:

D2:

It is definitely a D1 then. I knew it had the D1 door handles, but since it is registered here as a 99 D2 and I bought it as such last year, this is where my confusion came in! Thanks for the confirmation.

I would say it's one of two things:

Ignition module (usually fails when hot)

or

Fuel pump



The module can be hard to diagnose sometimes but if the car won't start at all, it'll be either because there's no spark or no fuel.

Hi Viv,

It also could also be the spider box that's part of the factory fitted immobilizer.
Part of the circuit board burns out over time and your vehicle cranks over but won't start as it stops any electrical spark to module and distributor.

Its a black rectangular box near the back of the firewall behind the radio ...its a bugger to get to as you have to remove the heater controls and a large portion of the front dashboard to get to it. Has plug in wires on either side of unit hence the term so I'm told.

Here in Perth Britparts used to sell a replacement that a local auto electrician has rewired and bypassed the circuit or some have removed and re-soldered the circuit themselves as a new unit is not cheap.

Cheers

Baggy

Thanks for the info. That one is a bit too much for me! It appears that it was only fuel pump after all. I went to Perth and got a replacement from Repco but once the whole thing is apart I found that the fitting that the fuel hose goes on is much smaller on the replacement. I also bought a length of submersible fuel line for vast sums (for 20cm) and then found it also was too big for any fittings. Managed to adapt it with hose clamps. Re-using the original wasn't an option as it couldn't be clamped successfully.
Has anyone else come across these little challenges? Getting the pump unit out of the tank was the easy bit by comparison. I had to do the process several times, not being able to just leave it out and the tank open.
My car smells like petrol now. I did a 30km run and all seems ok so far.
I am very grateful for all the info regarding removal etc on this site. I would have been up the creek without it!