Starting problems

[Bax]

Guys, Girls. Ladies, Gents.

Ever since my car has been completed I've had intermittent starting problems. I'll describe what happens:

I get in and turn the key to accessories, once fuel pump is primed I turn they key to start the car and I get - nothing -. Nothing at all. Volt gauge drops considerably but the starter doesn't tick over.

I can leave it for 10 minutes, and come back and it will start fine.

Battery is in the boot. Connected with suitably sized cable direct to the starter. I believe I only have one earth, I may put another from the battery to the boot floor in and see if that helps at all.

Ignition has been replaced. Another thing, if I don't wait for the fuel pump to prime and try to start, volts drop considerably but it doesn't start.

I checked volts the other day, battery was on 11 (it's been perfect but I hadn't started the car in a few weeks) and the starter said 10.7, But it wasn't starting.

So......??
Ideas. Tell me what it is and I'll go check it.

[maxpower QLD]

If its earthed directly to the body of your car then i'd recomend running another cable from the battery to your engine block so that the engine and body are both earthed .

[Bax]

Yeah that's what I meant by the earth. I believe the main negative on the battery runs to the engine block. I was going to put in a seperate earth to the boot floor/tow bar area. Thinking it would help rather then having it run 2m to the engine.

Any other thoughts?

[maxpower QLD]

Yeah that's what I meant by the earth. I believe the main negative on the battery runs to the engine block. I was going to put in a seperate earth to the boot floor/tow bar area. Thinking it would help rather then having it run 2m to the engine.

Any other thoughts?

Ok well where the main earth cable is attatched to on the block would you be able to run another one from that same point to the body of the car ? or as you mentioned above , mount another cable from the battery to the boot floor/tow bar area . I don't think it will fix your problem but it'd deffintaly be worth a try .

[jatsvl]

the vl does have two earths one on the block and one to the body near the battery so the earth in the boot would be a good idea!
you should have your battery tested to see if it is holding charge, also check the battery fluid is topped up.

[Bax]

I can safely rule out the battery unfortunately. It's a brand new optima yellow top. It's a sealed sucker but I've kept an eye on it and it's been holding charge up until recently when it's lost about a volt after a few weeks sitting without the car.

But yeah after about 6 months of it happening rarely the battery was still completely full.

[Bax]

Just a question as I'm having a bit of a drift.

Where are all the earths in the frontal section. Where do they all join.
And is the alternator earthed anywhere?

It seems to main earth I have is only battery to boot floor.

[VL_5SPEED]

Sounds like the starter motor is ****ed.... mine is the same. I either have to wait or pop the bonnet and tap the top of the starter motor with a big stick what i keep in the boot.

[Bax]

Where do you tap it? I'll give it a crack.

[VL_5SPEED]

I tap it on the cylinder part up the top of it... If you get something long like a broom stick, have your left hand turning the ignition and tap the cylinder part using your right hand... If you cant do that just tap it a few times and then try turning the ignition...

[woodyotoad]

could be a dodgy starter motor shorting out, one of your main earths (the thick wires) is not properly grounded (remove the wire and sand down the body work to bare metal and reattach the wire), replace battery terminals with new thicker ones, they are the three most common reasons to course your problems, nick

[Bax]

Cheers, since this last happened I've had problems with the battery holding charge, so I need to replace the alternator. When the battery is 100% lately it's been starting okay. Even though I know it will play up on me I have to get the alternator problem sorted first.

I'll look into earths, terminals are fantastic.

[Bax]

I got sick of it so I went and got a new alternator and starter. Everything seems to be fixed for now.

[detox_nath83]

another Bax could be your neutral start switch/relay. Like mine was playing up due to corrosion. But as you say new parts problem solved...:P

[Bax]

Yeah I did consider that actually, I think I ruled it out to it being pretty fresh.

Whether it was the starter or the alternator I'll never know, but out of the 6 times I've started it now to move it and what not, it's worked each go. So I'm pretty happy.

[Goon]

If its not firing check ur dizzy/crank angle sensor or tdc...it might fire uo for 10mins then ur dizzy overheats and cuts off for another hour..

[Bax]

Ended up replacing starter and alternator and everythings fixed.