- Sep 9, 2014
- 168
- 102
- Funster No
- 33,266
- MH
- Coach built
- Exp
- Summer 2014
Been a while since I've posted, but I need some help from the collective wisdom here please...I didn't have too much hair before this issue but if you could help keep what little is left, I'd be grateful!
AT Dakota, 2005 38k miles 2.8 jtd lump - fault free to now.
Sits on driveway with starter battery connected to a CTEK charger. Give it a start-up every month or so. Bursts into life on first turn of key...until a few days ago.
This time nothing more than a faint click from starter solonoid.
Battery, think it's the original, shows a healthy voltage - but perhaps it's lacking in oomph. New Yuasa battery fitted, still nothing more than a faint click. Out with multimeter, it's getting full volts to starter but the battery voltage is dropping to 0.8 volts for 30 secs after attempting to start! There is also a quite heavy clunk after 30 seconds which I assume to be the starter solonoid disengaging?
So, every terminal / fuse location on the positive terminal of the battery is cleaned, as are the starter connections and body/gearbox earthing points - none looked bad.
Try to start - nothing.
Off comes the starter, stripped, cleaned usual brush debris and a little scoring of commutator. Solonoid seemed free and it ran happily when bench tested. Refitted and this time it turns engine over at a healthy speed, but it won't start.
Inertia switch is fine - deliberately tripped and reset and it still won't start...still got a voltage drop but now my instrument needles are doing a dance and the hazard light switch is buzzing away loudly...I'm curing one thing to be presented with more frustrating and bizzare problems!
While my hearing isn't great - I cannot hear the lift pump working, no fuel no start!
While trying to rationalise what's turned a healthy starting engine into something less than reliable, the van is fitted with a Toad AI606 alarm/ immobiliser. This "appears" to be working, but I can't help but wonder if this is a problem.
It has two immobiliser circuits - without unravelling it all I'm assuming the two circuits it's connected to are the start circuit and possibly the fuel lift pump...as it also use's the indicator circuit for visual indication of status, that "may" account for the buzzing hazard switch?
It's worth mentioning that the standard Fiat immobiliser appears to be working.
Before I get into removing the Toad alarm, I need to check I'm getting power to the lift pump - I assume that I can access this pump without draining dropping the tank? Is there an access panel in driving area floor - nothing obvious I can see?
I've also got it in my head that the starter, or at least the solonoid may still be iffy - this huge voltage drop?
Anyone (if you can make sense of the above!) able to offer any other avenues to pursue? I'd be hugely grateful if you could please!
David
AT Dakota, 2005 38k miles 2.8 jtd lump - fault free to now.
Sits on driveway with starter battery connected to a CTEK charger. Give it a start-up every month or so. Bursts into life on first turn of key...until a few days ago.
This time nothing more than a faint click from starter solonoid.
Battery, think it's the original, shows a healthy voltage - but perhaps it's lacking in oomph. New Yuasa battery fitted, still nothing more than a faint click. Out with multimeter, it's getting full volts to starter but the battery voltage is dropping to 0.8 volts for 30 secs after attempting to start! There is also a quite heavy clunk after 30 seconds which I assume to be the starter solonoid disengaging?
So, every terminal / fuse location on the positive terminal of the battery is cleaned, as are the starter connections and body/gearbox earthing points - none looked bad.
Try to start - nothing.
Off comes the starter, stripped, cleaned usual brush debris and a little scoring of commutator. Solonoid seemed free and it ran happily when bench tested. Refitted and this time it turns engine over at a healthy speed, but it won't start.
Inertia switch is fine - deliberately tripped and reset and it still won't start...still got a voltage drop but now my instrument needles are doing a dance and the hazard light switch is buzzing away loudly...I'm curing one thing to be presented with more frustrating and bizzare problems!
While my hearing isn't great - I cannot hear the lift pump working, no fuel no start!
While trying to rationalise what's turned a healthy starting engine into something less than reliable, the van is fitted with a Toad AI606 alarm/ immobiliser. This "appears" to be working, but I can't help but wonder if this is a problem.
It has two immobiliser circuits - without unravelling it all I'm assuming the two circuits it's connected to are the start circuit and possibly the fuel lift pump...as it also use's the indicator circuit for visual indication of status, that "may" account for the buzzing hazard switch?
It's worth mentioning that the standard Fiat immobiliser appears to be working.
Before I get into removing the Toad alarm, I need to check I'm getting power to the lift pump - I assume that I can access this pump without draining dropping the tank? Is there an access panel in driving area floor - nothing obvious I can see?
I've also got it in my head that the starter, or at least the solonoid may still be iffy - this huge voltage drop?
Anyone (if you can make sense of the above!) able to offer any other avenues to pursue? I'd be hugely grateful if you could please!
David