My wifes car (R reg 406 2lt auto) has an odd problem (and not just the driver!)
Tonight she stopped her car at a local shop to get a snack, came out and the car wouldn't start. Turned the key, all the lights came on, but the
starter went click, didn't even try to turn over. I arrived half an hour later and she tried it again and it started no problem. The battery is
charging ok by the looks of things (though I haven't put a meter on it yet), the lights were nice and bright on the drive home, it's sat in
the drive for a hour, I've gone and tried it again and it's starting fine, so I presume the battery and alternator is ok.
Can I presume it's some odd intermittent electric fault, problem a loose connection maybe? Anywhere I should start looking? I'm happy
building cars, but hate fault finding, especially electrical ones.
just sounds like the starter had jammed wop it out and clean bendix make sure its does not stick, plus check connections, has the battery got them
silly posts on top that play up
Sounds like a Dodgey starter. Could be a dodgey inhibiter switch but If it definately clicked the wont be.
Could be a crap answer but...
Did she lock / unlock the car before trying to start it?
406's of that era have the auto-arming immobilisor that sets 1 minute after the car is turned off.
If the car is not locked and then unlocked by the remote, the immobiliser stays armed.
Also, as its an auto - Did she have it fully into park?
The click was probably the starter solonoid operating but not making contact internally . May be a one off if your lucky . If it happens again and you are unable to start it make sure car is in park , run a wire from the small connection on the starte solonoid to the battery. Just touch the positive terminal the starter should operate if the battery is charged . If it doesn't then you have a problem with the starter. try tapping the solonoid with a hammer with the wire in place . if starter works solonoid is sticking.
Sticky solenoid or just a dodgy earth or live connection. Has it got those funny terminals the French manufaturers like to use with the screw down tops? I had a Renault and they used to come loose occasionally.
Had that on a few cars..I always check the earths first
Jasper
My father had exactley the same problem on his rover 400 auto, a couple of years back
by the time i had got 2 the car and checked it was in neutrol, ie run the auto shifter thru the box and back to neutrol
it started first time, my father was not impressed !!!!!!!
he had to walk home to the phone(dont ask !!) to ring me and then back to his car at the shops, all of about 1/4 a mile both ways
I put this starting problem down to the neutrol selector/inhibiter switch, and now religously if the car hasnt turned over he runs the shifter up and
down
my theory, but it was a rover
Battery buggered
Start with the obivious a loose battery terminnal
quote:
Originally posted by bob
Battery buggered
Cheers chaps - I'll look into all of those ....
ive got two friends who would like to be a battery
Similar thing used to happen occasionally to my wifes diehatsu applause, Changed the battery and it was fine after that.
Quick way to check the Earth...
Take 1 Battery jump Lead..
Connect from Battery Earth terminal (NOT the LIVE one!), directly to the starter motor or the Engine near to the Starter motor.
ie a quick substitute earth cable!
Its a lot easier than messing about than checking the earth strap which is usually in some inaccessible position.
If it works and then doesnt when when the lead is removed its the earth the the engine.. the thich braided one (usually)
