Starting problem... new battery, won't start! n

[20vKarlos]

Right guys,

Yesterday I went to pick up my bargain Clio 172, I was told prior to winning the car that it just needed a battery and it would start up.
It was last started a month ago by the kiddies dad.

I arrive, change the battery and nothing happens, not even a click... so I was thinking Alternator straight away.. other threads do point to this being the problem, but I thought a car would start with a new battery but a duff alternator... or am I wrong?

The only other thing that's bothering me, they had a locksmith out last month as his dad lost the keys, then found them afterward.
Would them taking the drivers side lock mechanism interfere with the immobiliser?

I will post a video tomorrow and I have a few friends coming over to help me with it, but it's currently on the back of the rental flatbed, so I need to get it off, ideally by starting it

 

[chris blue]

Have you tried bump starting it. Thought mine was the battery recently, but couldnt even jump start it from another 2.0 motor (Strange)
Bump started OK tho. Seemed to get better on its own, as i thought starter motor, but was at least getting a click from solenoid.

Try a bump to turn the engine over?

 

[Ads29]

I take it when you turn the key the dash lights up as normal? The immobiliser light is in the centre panel at the top and should stay on for a couple of seconds and then go out with the key in position 2 on the ignition barrel.

If the above is happening then I'd say the immobiliser is working as it should and at this point I'd add an extra earth lead in the engine bay, a jump lead is perfect, attach one end to a good source of bare metal on the engine and the other to the negative pole of the battery, and try starting again.

Whether the alternator is fubared or not as long as there's charge in the battery the cat should start, I can only theorise as to there not being a problem with the immobiliser, if the light doesn't go out or flashes fast then it would suggest there's an issue, otherwise it should be fine

Hopefully my early morning rambling makes sense

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[20vKarlos]

Have you tried bump starting it. Thought mine was the battery recently, but couldnt even jump start it from another 2.0 motor (Strange)
Bump started OK tho. Seemed to get better on its own, as i thought starter motor, but was at least getting a click from solenoid.

Try a bump to turn the engine over?

I will give that a go today

 

[20vKarlos]

I take it when you turn the key the dash lights up as normal? The immobiliser light is in the centre panel at the top and should stay on for a couple of seconds and then go out with the key in position 2 on the ignition barrel.

If the above is happening then I'd say the immobiliser is working as it should and at this point I'd add an extra earth lead in the engine bay, a jump lead is perfect, attach one end to a good source of bare metal on the engine and the other to the negative pole of the battery, and try starting again.

Whether the alternator is fubared or not as long as there's charge in the battery the cat should start, I can only theorise as to there not being a problem with the immobiliser, if the light doesn't go out or flashes fast then it would suggest there's an issue, otherwise it should be fine

Hopefully my early morning rambling makes sense

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Thanks mate, I'm heading over shortly and all info helps :up:

 

[chris blue]

I took my battery leads off and cleaned terminal of battery and lugs at end of cables with wire wool and a file
Be careful not to short out the positive battery terminals to an earth- you'll get a flash n sparks and a surprise...

I tried an alternative earth- didnt do any good for me.
2nd gear downhill ignition on

 

[20vKarlos]

Lads, how do I get the immobiliser to disarm??

 

[welshname]

9/10 it's an earth issue. If you've got a jump lead put one end on the negative terminal on the battery and the other clamp to the gearbox/mount somewhere and then see if it starts. If it does it's likely the big earth strap to the gearbox that's gone.

 

[Mr Plums]

Check the green earth strap behind the passenger arch liner, and the battery earth behind the passenger headlight.

 

[bloke]

what's the imobiliser light doing? what lights come on when you turn the ignition on?

 

[20vKarlos]

Flashing really fast

 

[20vKarlos]

My pal checked all of of the earths and they're all ok. (I've no idea what they should read)

 

[20vKarlos]

if the immobiliser is the problem, do I need a new key? Do I have to get the ECU plugged in?

How do I clear the faults

 

[20vKarlos]

9/10 it's an earth issue. If you've got a jump lead put one end on the negative terminal on the battery and the other clamp to the gearbox/mount somewhere and then see if it starts. If it does it's likely the big earth strap to the gearbox that's gone.

Thats the only thing we haven't tried yet because I had to get the rental flat bed back. That is the next thing.

(Off to see the cost of the green strap)

 

[chris blue]

Have you tried bumping it, or not risking where it ends up?

My red light blinks every second when key isnt in ignition, even when i open door and sit in seat
Key in ignition and all the lights go on switching to position 1. Some of them go off but no blinking
It then does not start blinking again until the key is out the ignition

Dont know enough to know if the blinking light is an immobiliser or alarm
Thought the steering lockk was the immobiliser

 

[bloke]

if battery is good and the earth on the back of the gearbox to the loom is ok lock the car with the fob, unlock it, ignition on but don't try and start the car, leave it on for thrity seconds to a minute, turn it off, lock the car with the fob, unlock again, switch ignition back on and after couple of seconds the imobiliser light should go out, then start the car:wink:

although don't be surprised if it turns out the car wouldn't start due to previous owner having problems with it and just blamed the battery.

 

[20vKarlos]

Have you tried bumping it, or not risking where it ends up?

My red light blinks every second when key isnt in ignition, even when i open door and sit in seat
Key in ignition and all the lights go on switching to position 1. Some of them go off but no blinking
It then does not start blinking again until the key is out the ignition

Dont know enough to know if the blinking light is an immobiliser or alarm
Thought the steering lockk was the immobiliser

Yeah, tried to bump it, it went to turn over but something (immobiliser, I believe) was stopping it from turning over.

if battery is good and the earth on the back of the gearbox to the loom is ok lock the car with the fob, unlock it, ignition on but don't try and start the car, leave it on for thrity seconds to a minute, turn it off, lock the car with the fob, unlock again, switch ignition back on and after couple of seconds the imobiliser light should go out, then start the car:wink:

although don't be surprised if it turns out the car wouldn't start due to previous owner having problems with it and just blamed the battery.

I'm not sure it will lock on the fob, the drivers lock has been taken off the car. See OP.

I think this is part of the problem

 

[bloke]

imobiliser won't stop the car from cranking. does it crank on the key?

no door lock won't stop it locking from the fob, only needs the uch to see it's been locked.

 

[Mr Plums]

Could it just be your starter thats fooked?

 

[STEVE.M]

Yeah, tried to bump it, it went to turn over but something (immobiliser, I believe) was stopping it from turning over./QUOTE]
Can you turn the engine over by hand with a socket on the crank pulley bolt?

 

[chris blue]

My back up plan is to get the RAC out if need be. Got the all singing/ dancing any car, any place plus home cover and trailer home etc etc. Thought better splash out the £100 if getting on old warhorse

Not sure they will tow me away from the track circuit tho.....:tonguewink:

 

[20vKarlos]

Not tried everything yet, will get it in the unit and start investigating it further :up:

 

[20vKarlos]

My back up plan is to get the RAC out if need be. Got the all singing/ dancing any car, any place plus home cover and trailer home etc etc. Thought better splash out the £100 if getting on old warhorse

Not sure they will tow me away from the track circuit tho.....:tonguewink:

They certainly will... I thought about calling them out today and seeing whether they could determine the fault codes, if there are any in the system

 

[chris blue]

might be the solenoid i spose- need to check u r getting power to the starter motor

 

[20vKarlos]

Just popped into Renault and the bloke in there seems to think it'll be the key.

They've quoted £36 +VAT for the gearbox earth strap :fearscream:... so I think I will pop to Halfrauds and see if I can get an earth strap there to try.

 

[20vKarlos]

imobiliser won't stop the car from cranking. does it crank on the key?

no door lock won't stop it locking from the fob, only needs the uch to see it's been locked.

It just clicks, so I'm going to try a new starter motor too.

What is UCH? (I will search more on this when I'm home)

Could it just be your starter thats fooked?

Yes... but I have a starter from a pal and I will try that

 

[JamesBryan]

Immobiliser light flashing is sometimes the key battery. It was on my mates Clio anyway.

 

[Budgie]

try what Bloke said with the key.

Need the immobiliser light to go out properly before it'll fire.

As said though, it should still crank a couple of turns and then give up (if it was just the immobiliser).

Give the starter motor a whack, or put it in gear and rock the car back and forward. See if that frees it up.

 

[20vKarlos]

Update
Few people have recommended an Auto Locksmith, so i went in and told him what's happening and he wants to see the key as he thinks the key is faulty.

He's given me s price for a new key and to come out to the car and recode and sort the immobiliser issue.

I'm going to try all the small things and then get him out to sort the immobiliser. If that then works, I've got a super cheap track car. :up:

 

[Ol’ Tarby]

When I had my Clio, I tried the spare key once to see if it worked. It wouldn't start the car, but it also then wouldn't start when I used my normal key. I don't know if it was complete fluke, but I put the key in, and then turned it to the second position whilst holding the button in. It then fired up straight away. Like I say, could of been a fluke, bit it's worth a go

 

[20vKarlos]

When I had my Clio, I tried the spare key once to see if it worked. It wouldn't start the car, but it also then wouldn't start when I used my normal key. I don't know if it was complete fluke, but I put the key in, and then turned it to the second position whilst holding the button in. It then fired up straight away. Like I say, could of been a fluke, bit it's worth a go

That was a suggestion a little earlier in the thread bud.. it is apparently a reset for the immobiliser but it didn't work for me ensive:

 

[chris blue]

I've got a super cheap track car. :up:

Pics, pics.

 

[bloke]

have you checked the two earths on the gearbox? can you turn engine over by had or pushing it whilst in gear?

 

[20vKarlos]

Pics, pics.

Pictures will be the next time I'm down the unit

 

[20vKarlos]

Update!

I went to see the Auto locksmith today, he tested the key and said the key is working and it should start the car. HOWEVER, there is an aerial (coil) on the ignition barrel that sometimes fails. He said in plug it and give it a clean with contact cleaner and plug it back in.

If it's not that, then it's an earthing problem.

- I personally think it's the gearbox earth strap, so I think I'm going to stump up the cash for it :expressionless:

 

[chris blue]

Hope so. Earth faults seem to be common on these
My accelerator cable just snapped...... :-(
Common fault too I believe- stuck on the drive

Love working on cars in the summer, with a cool cider on tap
Not in freezing winter. LOL

Looks like I couldn't do Lydden on Saturday anyway, now

 

[welshname]

Update!

I went to see the Auto locksmith today, he tested the key and said the key is working and it should start the car. HOWEVER, there is an aerial (coil) on the ignition barrel that sometimes fails. He said in plug it and give it a clean with contact cleaner and plug it back in.

If it's not that, then it's an earthing problem.

- I personally think it's the gearbox earth strap, so I think I'm going to stump up the cash for it :expressionless:

Why don't you just try the jump lead thing first!!!

 

[20vKarlos]

I certainly will bud, I've just got to get it into my unit as that's number 1 priority at the moment.
Having a few issues with the letting agent for my unit, so I've not been unless to pick the keys up for the unit this week, but it's looking like next week now 😞

 

[Jonz]

imobiliser won't stop the car from cranking. does it crank on the key?

This should be first port of call.

 

[chris blue]

Check the cables from RHS fusebox are connected to battery as well as big chunky (Starter? ) cable

Just swapped my battery for a new BOSCH, and for half hour couldnt suss out why sweet FA was happening. Not even lights and i had a good 12v.

I'd left those cables off

Happy days now, started first time (Not rubbing it in)