P38 won't start help please

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M

Maccamark

New Member
Posts
16
Location
Basingstoke hampshire
Hi all I'm new here so please be kind ;) I have a 1999 p38 4.6 hse the problem I'm having is when I turn the key to start I hear the relay click but that's it silence please help thanks mark.
 
The place to start is the battery. It's either poorly connected or dead. Or both. Put a charge on it and clean up the connections and then see what happens. Then you can look for issues such as bad alternator or the oft occurring RF battery drain. :(
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the replies had the car for about 4 years now I can here the solenoid every now and then not all the time roughly every 8-9 turns. The battery is new and also tried with jump leads for a boost but nothing.
 
Maccamark said:
No I haven't what should I expect by doing this ??
Click to expand...

If the inhibitor switch is dicky then moving the g/lever a little may just make a contact. Failing that, as per post 2, have you checked your battery is fully charged as even a new one can be duff. Check the leads on the starter motor are tight and the earth straps from the battery and there should be another from the body to the engine. You can try a jump lead from the - ve terminal to the engine and see if that helps, if it does then you have an earth problem. Do you have power to the main lead at the starter motor?
 
tomcat59alan said:
If the inhibitor switch is dicky then moving the g/lever a little may just make a contact. Failing that, as per post 2, have you checked your battery is fully charged as even a new one can be duff. Check the leads on the starter motor are tight and the earth straps from the battery and there should be another from the body to the engine. You can try a jump lead from the - ve terminal to the engine and see if that helps, if it does then you have an earth problem. Do you have power to the main lead at the starter motor?
Click to expand...

Some cleverer lads than me on here !!!!!! + wammers and tomcat .but only available if aldi is shut :D:D:D:D:D hoping there both well !!!!!
 
I have moved the gear leaver and just by wiggling it and you can here the solenoid clicking it also tried to crank over on two occasions but very weak and that was with jump leads connected.
 
Maccamark said:
I have moved the gear leaver and just by wiggling it and you can here the solenoid clicking it also tried to crank over on two occasions but very weak and that was with jump leads connected.
Click to expand...
So that sounds like either the battery is dead, not unusual on a P38, or there is a bad connection at the battery or earth straps etc.
If the battery is totally flat, a jump might not start it either.
 
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