car wont start?

F

faz_b

Member
Hi All,

Just a quick one, wanted to check if i am being an idiot or if there is something very easy/well known/obvious that I could sort myself before having to get the car towed off my driveway tomorrow!

simple symptoms really:

- battery definitely works and is normal
- insert key, turn to ACC position and all dash lights come on as normal, can hear what sounds like a regular fuel pump being primed in engine
- turn to ignition position and nothing, dash lights remain on, but starter motor doesnt turn (not even struggling to turn, just doesnt fire in anyway at all)


pretty certain its not the starter motor as usually if they stiffen up would at least struggle to turn or give some indication of beginning to fail over a week or two of use prior to the unit failing, this is not the case with me. It has fired straight away every time up until this episode.

one thing I have noticed after fiddling and opening the bonnet is that there is a faint whirring sound that continues while the key is in ACC position. i had an old ford once and had a similar issue once before where the fuel pump would continuously prime and as a result the car wouldnt fire. If I remove the key then that sound continues for another couple of seconds and then stops ending with what sounds like the release of a small pressure valve with a small hiss of air (bizarre??!!)

It feels like some sort of electrical gremlin to me but I didnt think the Z4 were known for electrical unreliability?

might not be the best description but its the only way i can think to explain!!

anyone have any thoughts on what the issue could be?
 
nope. cant, its sitting on my driveway at an awkward angle so getting it off to bump it would be a bit difficult, but even then bumping it would need the starter to even try and turn which its not doing at all.
 
faz_b said:
nope. cant, its sitting on my driveway at an awkward angle so getting it off to bump it would be a bit difficult, but even then bumping it would need the starter to even try and turn which its not doing at all.
Click to expand...

If its not a auto then you can bump start with a duff starter motor , doesn't need much speed , even do it in reverse if that's the way it comes off the drive
 
cheers, will give it a go!

irrespective though thats not going to sort it I am sure, anyone have any ideas what could be the issue at fault?
 
Have you tried giving the starter a tap ? Don't rule it out as if the brushes get stuck and don't complete the circuit you will get nothing not even a click.
If you tap the starter while someone holds the key in the crank position you may well find it will work.

Worth a try.

Stuart
 
Another forum member on holiday in Ireland recently had the very same issues , his was duff starter motor :wink:
 
Do you not hear the click from the relay of the starter motor?

And as mr Wilks said - you can jump start a car if it doesn't even have a starter motor at all.
 
How do you know the battery is good? The dash lights don't require much energy to light up so your battery could be 90% flat, you need to measure the voltage with a multimeter so you can discount (or blame) the battery.
Regards
 
Happened on my Yaris the other day. Same symptoms. Terminal nut on battery was only slightly loose. Tightened it and off we went. Thinking about, had it happen before on a Ford. :driving:
 
mr wilks said:
Another forum member on holiday in Ireland recently had the very same issues , his was duff starter motor :wink:
Click to expand...


That was me :D mine had same symptoms but its started when i bumped it
 
seems I might have been wrong, mobile mechanic came out and reckons its the starter motor after all. just ordered a new one from eurocarparts (i went for the bosch one at around 100quid plus 145 surcharge)

should be delivered tomorrow so fingers crossed!
 
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