You turn the key and then.........nowt!

Hi peeps, TD5 auto, fully charged battery, new glow plugs about 15000 miles ago, shes done 105k all together.

I turn the key and dont even get a click,whir or anything, its as if you try and start an auto in 'D' when it only works in 'P', so should i investigate any electrickity under the gear shift?

BIG MATT said:

Hi peeps, TD5 auto, fully charged battery, new glow plugs about 15000 miles ago, shes done 105k all together.

I turn the key and dont even get a click,whir or anything, its as if you try and start an auto in 'D' when it only works in 'P', so should i investigate any electrickity under the gear shift?

Click to expand...

give the small spade connection on yer starter motor a wiggle.

Same symptom as when the immobiliser is still active then.

lets hope its the wiggle solution, are you implying my immobiliser is going duff?

Cheers for your help both

Had the same on my 300 auto. After hours of frustration and wacking the starter with a hammer ,RAC man came and wiggled the connector , it started ! :doh:

Check voltage with multimeter on starter solenoid while u're turning the ignition on....then u can go further with the diagnose.....as far as i know the immobiliser would let the engine crank.

Cheers all will try at weekend and let you all know

BIG MATT said:

Cheers all will try at weekend and let you all know

Click to expand...

It'll be one of two things either the lead fasteners have come loose on the starter motor or your starter motor solenoid has given up the ghost.

If it's latter there is good news. The OE starter is a good quality item well worth keeping, there is a guy on Ebay that does "starter solenoid repair kits" they cost about a £10, the job is easy to do and you'll be back up and running.

If you need to do this, the starter motor is held in place by 2 x 13mm bolts - one at the botton the other at the side; plus a 15mm nut at the top. Use a long (9") extension to get your socket on this 15mm nut and the job's a good'un.

Cheers
Dave

I had this on my TD5 Series 2 not 3 weeks ago. All the lights on, but nobody home 'Twas the starter motor. Naturally it had to happen during possibly the busiest and most important time of year at work and I needed it fixed pronto, so couldn't wait to see if the starter motor itself was fixable or to get a reconditioned one, so had to shell out for a new one. I think my truck knew this was an inconvenient time and planned for this to happen when it did lol.

Cheers chaps for the help, so im starting the job this morning, but what do i do first is it battery out and battery holder out or is it all underneath?

BIG MATT said:

Cheers chaps for the help, so im starting the job this morning, but what do i do first is it battery out and battery holder out or is it all underneath?

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Disconnect the battery negative lead, then attack from underneath.

The two x 13mm bolts are easy to spot, the 15mm nut at the top you have to feel for. Obviously you will need to disconnect the cable as well.

cheers for that right im off to get oiley!

U better make sure where the problem is.......what if its just an electrical problem?........my advice is to see first if the starter gets voltage when u ignite.....cos if not then it might be just a bad contact somewhere.....the starter solenoid used to click on ignition. Anyway to remove the starter u dont have to disturb any other parts.

I will be honest and say this is beyond me but i may have found the fault, whilst disconecting the battery - terminal the connecter just turned o the battery stump and came off, could this be the issue a bad earth as previously mentioned? what do you suggest i pack the terminal connecter with as it seems to be at its max?

mainly used to dealing with motorbikes but the principles the same. the negative lead should be firmly attached. got to be your first port of call

God I love this site, years of giving and recieving help, cheers all fingers crossed its just a bad terminal contact, but deep down and knowing TD5 shes gonna do one on me soon despite all the lovin I give her.

you gotta be positive. always try and keep it simple.
once i`ve had my td5 a while i`ll probably change my tune.