Won't start!

[Jonnymaz]

Well I've tried the bonnet switch again, and put the main headlights on and they work fine with no dimming, so does that suggest it's not a battery issue? Also I have checked and the battery is only a couple of years old.

The gears are changing fine, I can hear the clunk. When I turn the key in the ignition I can hear a pump whirring for a bit, not sure which one it is.

Read about a "dead spot" on the starter motor, tried rocking it but nothing.

Could it be a failed starter motor?

Any ideas what the significance of the warning light is? I think it is the emissions warning light, which stays on in yellow.

Also, just had a thought, is it normal with CSLs to have a delay between turning the key and firing up? It has always waited for a second or 2 before doing anything. Didn't think anything of this but wonder if it was a symptom if this is not normal?

Sorry to keep with the questions!!

[shimmy]

Look, easy solution. Call the AA.

If your not a member, join, then call them next week.

If you dont want to be an AA member, either buy a charged battery or borrow one, that will rule out alternator or battery.

Otherwise I am afraid you will have to call an auto electrician out or a recovery truck. Sitting waiting for an answer won't work, believe me.

[Equinox_csl]

Sounds exactly the same as mine did the day after I arrived in sount of France, everything electrical working perfectly but not starting, mine was a starter, wouldnt engage at all. Im sure you can get yours dont quicker but little dealers in France spent a week fitting my starter, it's a bit rural where I was though.

[shane@mbtech]

Pretty basic checks will eliminate lots of things.

As Shimmy said you won't find your answers on here. You might get pointers but tbh you are best getting it looked at by someone who knows what they are doing

[Pip1968]

Look, easy solution. Call the AA.

If your not a member, join, then call them next week.

If you dont want to be an AA member, either buy a charged battery or borrow one, that will rule out alternator or battery.

Otherwise I am afraid you will have to call an auto electrician out or a recovery truck. Sitting waiting for an answer won't work, believe me.

Pretty basic checks will eliminate lots of things.

As Shimmy said you won't find your answers on here. You might get pointers but tbh you are best getting it looked at by someone who knows what they are doing

You two are harsh. Give the man a chance. It's the not knowing that is the worst bit. At least it may give you a heads up on cost and wait time. That way you can fend off 'er indoors about what a waste of money the car was and how much money you are spending on her.

.......perhaps that is just me :whistle:.

If it is any consolation I think my battery may need replacing. It sits on trickle charge but I have noticed of late that the orange charge light stays on for longer before going green. It would not start on pick up from BMW the other day but ironically it started just before that after sitting for nine days at Stanstead in the snow.

Pip

[83SY]

Sounds like battery,get it charged up,That was bad timing in September,you knew we were going,couldn't you have waited untill October,Shimmy has put a lot of time and effort into this trip.:whistle::whistle:

Always worth investing in a good trickle charger. Not much help this time but wont happen again :-D

[shane@mbtech]

You two are harsh. Give the man a chance. It's the not knowing that is the worst bit. At least it may give you a heads up on cost and wait time. That way you can fend off 'er indoors about what a waste of money the car was and how much money you are spending on her.

.......perhaps that is just me :whistle:.

If it is any consolation I think my battery may need replacing. It sits on trickle charge but I have noticed of late that the orange charge light stays on for longer before going green. It would not start on pick up from BMW the other day but ironically it started just before that after sitting for nine days at Stanstead in the snow.

Pip

We get customers who trawl the internet for answers. They dont know enough to be able to seive through the bullshit(thats why they ask to begin with), and they then start to panic about worse case scenarios, or buy needless parts that dont fix it. They then buy more parts that still dont fix it.

After needless wasted hours fitting parts that dont fix it and wasted time/money, they get us to look at it. It takes 20 minutes and the customer is back on the road for a fraction of the cost that they spent on incorrect parts(most of the time- occasionally its bad news, ecu fucked etc)

False economy sometimes.

My advice was just in case he went out buying things he may not need because an expert on the internet told him too:supz:

By all means check the things, but dont spend money until inspected correctly is my advice.

[Jonnymaz]

Ha, thanks Pip!

I did think that initially but to be honest they're absolutely right! I suppose I was just hoping for several people to say it was a common problem and was definitely xyz, if only because it's stuck on my drive and difficult to get it looked at by someone who knows what they're doing!

Guess it's either get it recovered or tow it! Fingers crossed it's not an expensive fix!

Would be interested to know about the time it takes to fire it up - do you guys also get a delay when you turn the key? Not had that on previous cars.

Will let you know what it is in case anyone is interested...

[Steve B]

Have you tried a set of jump leads or a jump pack???

[Pip1968]

No problem JonnyMaz. You have to help the underdog. With only 24 posts to your name I would not want you to get the wrong idea about the CSL Register. We are a friendly bunch despite all the swearing that has crept into the forum recently. Shimmy and Lawsy are generally very helpful so I assume that their responses were a little curt due to not being fed :whistle:.

I get a very small delay when I start mine so I think is normal but then my battery seems to be on its way out so I may be wrong :119:.

Pip

[shane@mbtech]

I got the slight delay on start, on all 3 of the CSl I've had.

When you rocked the car forward and back was it in gear with handbrake off?

[Jonnymaz]

Looks like the delay is usual for a CSL, presumably bracing itself for the noise!:thumbs:

Hopefully can get a tow from father-in-law on Saturday morning. Will try jump leads at the same time as I don't fancy pushing the car out twice to access the front!

[83SY]

what causes that slight delay? :119:

[shane@mbtech]

what causes that slight delay? :119:

I can only assume its a start enable thing, and the car is checking its not in gear etc etc

Edited to add after thinking about it, maybe its actuating clutch to start it.

[Jonnymaz]

Fixed!

Sorted, turns out it was the battery after all!

Last owner put a cheap one in. Now got a Bosch 70Ah, not the smallest but hopefully it will be more reliable!

Incidentally it came up in conversation that my car turns out to be flapless and I hadn't realised! Probably why the wife complains about the noise so much!

Does it make much difference, and is it worth considering putting one back in?