Combined brains of T-Bar needed!

:help:

OK - so those of you who read my thread Productive Day will know that having lavished attention on my TF it refused to start!! :rant:

Unfortunately, I had to work Thursday and Friday and therefore have only just got round to looking to the problem today.

At first I thought it was a parasitic battery drain that was causing the problem, but checked the battery after standing for 3 days and it was still reading above 12.5 volts, but even so would not turn the starter motor. Just a loud click when I turned the ignition.

Off with the inspection cover to check the connections on the starter - all seem to be good. Hooked up the jump leads to neighbours car - let it run for a while to accrue some extra charge - still just a loud click, and no turning over of the engine! :nonod:

I decided at this point that the starter may be jammed, so put car in gear and rocked it back and forth to try to turn the engine over a little, and hopefully dislodge the jammed motor. Eventually, I get starter motor to turn :woohoo: - however despite long attempts no engine firing up :sick: :slapme:

About to go to Halfords to invest in a new set of plugs to see if that will help, but keep wondering why, even after longish turns of the engine with the starter motor - under my batteries own steam now, I am not smelling fuel as I would expect to (especially as the inspection cover is still off)

Up until Wednesday it was running well, starting fine. I've checked fluids and coolant is down a bit (but nothing new there - the other thing I am trying to chase down is where this is going) - no puddles underneath and oil remains clear and at normal level. So I don't think it is a HGF issue.

Any thoughts would be welcomed :hugs:

John

I would say alternator, starter motor possibly :dry:

If its cranking and not firing the starter motor should be ok.
Have you checked the fuel cut off inertia switch, also check all fuses.
Lets get that out the way first!

look at fuse to petrol pump

Agree - Check the fuel pump is actually pumping, can you hear it prime when you switch on the ignition?

Clicking instead of cranking suggests the connection to the starter solenoid needs cleaning/tightening up.

As David says, check all sm connections, also check battery terminals clean and tight.

behind the ecu is a black box. this houses the relays for the fuel pp, starter, alarm, and something else. seemingly this can suffer dry joints. i have a spare one in the shed if it is this?

silly question, but have you checked all of your fuses?

if you need a hand, i can 'pop down' today to assist, i fancy a drive lol

Lee

Is the bugger gannin' yet?

Ok - starting from the top;

Inertia Switch - I'm assuming that the switch is on the top under the soft rubber covering, and that if it had tripped I would feel it push down? If so, it hasn't tripped - but I have pushed down anyway, just to be sure.

Fuses - pulled all fuses under the bonnet and in the passenger compartment - all look fine (wish I'd got the glow ones!!)

Is there a separate (inline) fuse for the fuel pump, as there is a off -white thing that looks like it could be that, just underneath the inertia switch??

I've checked all connections and all clean and tight, although I will redo the solenoid ones once I have solved this (but starter turning at moment so not urgent)

Fuel Pump - when I switch Ignition on I can hear a whirring noise for a few seconds - I'm assuming this is fuel pump priming?

Lastly - lovely offer GroovyLee - but it is a heck of a drive from Bedfordshire to Kent. I don't have a garage with light and power, and therefore if you really wanted to do this tomorrow would be better than tonight!! :beer: Also, when you say black box behind the ECU - do I have to take off the ECU to get at this?

Seems a little strange this,,, Putting the car in gear and rocking it would not free up this type of starter inless it was permantley engaged. Very unlikely.

I would check your earth connections,

A common problem on Rover K series is the main earth strap and the main battery cables can become frayed.

If its turning over then it should fire straight away.

so 1st of all (if the engine is turning over)
You should hear the fuel pump run when you put on ignition switch on,(dont start it) until it makes pressure then it stops. It wont run again until pressure drops.

Start the car, turn ignition to off, turn ignition on again (fuel pump should run again).

If it does you have an ignition problem. (coil common on Mems 3 and mems 1.9)

Softly~Softly wrote: I would say alternator, starter motor possibly :dry:

Even with a siezed alternator it would start.

Might be worth using a OBD2 scanner, see if any codes come up.

T4 would be better but they aren't as common.