Car won't start.

Car's dead this morning, it has power, I can hear a whirring from under the passenger seat, (fuel pumping?) but there's a single click and then nothing.

It's happened before and I think it's related to the Immobilizer, (an aftermarket scorpion one). Sometimes clicking the alarm on and off made it start again, but not this morning.

Anyone had this before?

Is it an auto?

LOL, been there Bill!!!

LOL, been there Bill!!!

Me too, nearly every day

Eh? (thinks this is going to be a red button question)

No, it's a manual.

Probably a daft question, you say it has power, but is it enough? I've had it on mine previously where it looked like there was nothing wrong with the battery (interior light came on, I could open the car remotely, voltmeter even said there was charge), but there wasn't enough charge to start.

Car would click and that was it.

Well, the windows wind down quickly, and it's been fine all week although the seat motor was slowing down on Sunday while I was cocking around breaking the seat winders.

Charged the battery overnight, and it clicked, then tried again and it started this morning, although I still had to press buttons on the alarm remote before that happened.

Coincidence.

It's a Serpi-Star, not a Scorpion.

you say it has power, but is it enough?

Lol, Tommy Nooka. It has power, but does it really have power?

Further update, went out for moortop drive for 2 hours yesterday, so I'd presume battery is fully charged.

This morning...Click....nothing, alarm buttons shave no effect, turning the heater off has no effect...I bet it starts tonight though.

Can I test the battery while it is still attached to the car?

Perhaps a new alarm might ease the problem just a little bit?

Could it be the problem? Does the wiring break down over time?

I've had the car some 8 years now I think.

Could I test it by totally disconnecting the alarm?

Or perhaps a new battery. Once they reach the end of their life they really do fall to bits. Won't hold a charge overnight.

A battery should have errrrrr 12.5v? When the car isn't running? I think. If it drops below about 11.8v you'll have trouble starting the car.

-Ian

Was just going to suggest a new battery as well, the fact that charging it seemed to help suggests it is on its way out...

The initial over charge is probably sufficient to get it started, but once the battery has settled in, a bend in the plates or the acid being off would cause it to discharge very quickly.

I'll check it tonight.

Could it be the problem? Does the wiring break down over time?

I've had the car some 8 years now I think.

 

Could I test it by totally disconnecting the alarm?

I wouldnt say its the main problem (see battery points above) but if you have to fiddle with the buttons to get it to start then thats not a good thing!

I recognise those symptoms. I've had this on my supe. Sometimes the car would fire up (just about), and sometimes it wouldn't even turn the engine over at all.

The starter motor contacts on mine needed relacing. All I heard was a single click from the engine bay when trying to crank it. Mr T does a kit that supplies the necessary parts. It cost approx £15. Before you do this though, I would recommend seeing if anyone's got a battery you can substitute for yours, to eliminate the problem being caused by a duff battery.

Great timing I'd say, lots of us having the same problem at the same time. Must be the weather, eh?

I tried swapping a brand new battery with no change, so I'm thinking it's the starter contacts.

Problem is, it's in my work parking lot on uneven ground where I can't work on it, so I guess I'll have to charge the battery and keep trying until it starts, then take bring it home.

Some people have had luck rolling the car backwards or forwards and then trying again from what I've read.

Please do post what fixes it for you.

Battery was fully charged. Could well be starter then, as its intermittant fault, equally the immobiliser.

Yep, still sounds like the starter contacts. Here's what I had at the time: http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?t=78173. This thread has the part numbers too.

When I had it, de-immobilising the car (even though it was already de-immobilised) sometimes worked, although the fault didn't turn out to be anything to do with the immobiliser.

More importantly...

"Why you no like my pies?"

Boosh?

Penetrating theatre!

I've just ordered the contacts. On order 2 days from the local Mr. T cost me 28 Euro. Will jack the car and repair in a parking lot out in the cold. Should be fun.

Me too.

What do we reckon, whole front end up in the air, or just lift the LH side to get underneath?

Exploring both options. Will let you know what works for me.