Silence when turning the key

[n2x]

The car wont start again. This time its not even making any noise(except the fuel pump which turns on when turning the key)

- not an immobilizer problem because i changed the key a couple of months ago
- not a battery problem because all the lights are working and bought a brand new battery last month
- not a fuel pump problem since it turns on when turning the key

Had the same issue 5 days ago, tried to start again after 2 hours and it worked. Now it has been a day and still nothing.

Could it be that the wiring has got wet since it rained 2 days ago?

 

[Topgeartom]

Sounds VERY much like the starter exciter wire coming loose on the starter motor.

Had the exact same issue on my ph1.

There is a small wire with a spade connector that pushes onto terminal on the starter, these come loose over time so occasionally it will start, others not.

Take the exhaust heatshield off put your phone down the back of the engine and take a picture of everything, it should be pretty obvious what your looking for then.

 

[The Fatty]

Silence is golden...

No in all seriousness, its probably the solinoid wire as mentioned above or the solinoid is not working properly (the contacts inside are not touching when ment to)

 

[n2x]

Cheers mates. I got it to the dealers, they took a quick look and didn´t find anything. Then told me i could either go get the car because it could be push-started or let them keep it there. I went and took it, drove home and it started again :rasp: Still don´t know what the problem was but i will check the starter tomorrow.

 

[Struggler]

wait till it plays up again.

open the bonnet, wiggle the small wire going onto the start motor, and try to start it again.

my mates 172 did this constantly when he first got it, i think in the end we took the connecter out and cleaned it all up. Its been fine ever since

 

[The Fatty]

DONT PUSH START IT if it hasnt had a decat put on; it will casue fuel to enter the cat and explode, damaging the cat!!! Spray the contacts with contact cleaner, it may help (or ot may not, but its worth a shot).

 

[Struggler]

why would fuel entering the cat explode??

 

[The Fatty]

because it combusts in a confined space and cat meterial is not strong?! its the same as if the car was running rich, which results in the same thing in the end...

 

[Struggler]

this will only happen if the cat is very very hot, and even then the amount of fuel potentially dumped into the exhaust will be incredibly minimal.

long term misfires will obviously destroy cats, but i dont think occasionally bump starting will do any harm what so ever.

 

[The Fatty]

still, the better way to do this is to turn the ignition on, make sure the car is out of gear, then use a jump lead from the positive terminal of the battery to the positive input on the starter motor itself, break the connection once the car starts.