Thread: Dead in the water

If you're getting a click when you try to start it could be the starter solenoid isn't working like it should.

Have you put a meter across the battery to check the voltage and also what it does when you try to put it under load?

assuming the battery can deliver the amps and volts required get someone to hold it on the start position and give the starter a love tap with a rubber mallet..

also check it can still start by giving it a pull/push start.

if it will start by bumping but not by the starter its a starter fault not an electronic one.

Seem like every thing is snow balling, could this have caused my previous starting faults. Just tryed to tow start with no dramas. I don't have a volter metre but when I went and put the batt cahrger on it the charger display read 2 1/2- 3 A. I dont know if thats single anps or 100s of amps. She still runs fine without any loss of power or preformance. It's getting it to start. Tryed the love taps nadda, there is now a dedicated earth to the starter moter. However the S1 had no dramas with being at the front of the tow. I wish sally anne had a crank handle too.

ive had some problems with a weak battery.....it wasnt flat.....just low.....

it had enough to just turn the engine over...but it wouldnt fire up......which it normally does first kick.....
i couldnt even clutch start it.....

it turns out that there is not enough power for the system to operate correctly....
not sure if its the ecu or injectors or fuel pump......but there wasnt enough power to fire up.....

so........................a weak battery may not allow it to be clutch started......

Before getting to far try cleaning all the battrey leads at both ends starter motor And the ground were it meets the body. My car did same and the lads here told me to do just that and it worked a treat.Hope this helps
All the best
Ben

had a similar thing of the g/f daewoo... turns out the battery was nearly dry! dumped in 2 litres (yes 2 litres) of deionised water... and its been fine ever since... i'd assume the battery was sealed but maybe worth checking if it isnt and its dry? if its dry its current ability and ability to hold charge will be greatly reduced

Thanks

Steve

The battery was replaced when I posted 'starting dramas' in early jan, since I have removed all earths and major power suplies and cleaned. Also added a dedicated earth lead to the starter motor. The stealer has a disco showing similar symptoms so their removing the starter motor from both for a sticky beek.

Is there a link of postal address to have a bi**h to LR?

Originally Posted by DEFENDERZOOK

ive had some problems with a weak battery.....it wasnt flat.....just low.....

it had enough to just turn the engine over...but it wouldnt fire up......which it normally does first kick.....
i couldnt even clutch start it.....

so........................a weak battery may not allow it to be clutch started......

turning on to a cold engine your battery must be able to provide 85 amps @ 11.5v while all the following are on

1. ecu
2. fuel pump
3. glowplugs

this drops to 25 when the plugs are off and the fuel pump is on full tilt

when the pump is not going flat out that drops to below the threshold of the work clamp meter...

I dont have 100% faith in the work clamp meter (its well abused) but at first guestimate those numbers make sense when compared to EFI numbers and old school glowplugs in a series or perentine.

On top of that draw the starter relay and soleniod draw 15 amps in their own right (according to the clamp chich doesnt start to read on scale till 20 amps)

Then the starter kicks in, hopefully.

you could try this if the battery is on the way out and your sure youve got good connections

glow the engine, wait for 30 seconds, glow it again and repeat, then as soon as the plugs go out if your lucky you might get a start.

The logic is 2 sided 1. when you expose the battery to a load it warms up and develops a "surface charge" while your not drawing current from it, which, providing the battery isnt totaled might give you enough herbs for a couple of turns of the crank. 2. The air and chambers will be warmer from repeated glowing so in theory it should start easier.