P38 2.5 DSE dead on key

Morning all,

My P38 has died, well it won't start.

It threw it's alternator belt a few weeks back, I adventually got round to replacing it and charged the battery while I was doing it, all seemed good as it drove the 90 odd miles to its new home towing my MK4 golf all the way no issues.

I parked it up and left it over night, moved it in the morning no issues but after I had turned it off it now won't start.

The standard lights come on the dash but it won't turn over, it's not asking for the eka code or telling me the engine is locked out.

Anyone got any ideas?

Need it to get to work

Thanks in advance

Tom

Flat battery, duff starter motor solenoid or relay, blown fuse. You could try tapping the starter motor with a hammer while someone turns the key to the cranking position.

Yeah checked all the usuals and done the tapping the starter, doesn't want to try to turn over

What is the voltage across the battery terminals with the ignition on? Is there a drop when you turn the key to the start position? If so what does it drop to?

Ginger Tom said:

Yeah checked all the usuals and done the tapping the starter, doesn't want to try to turn over

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Not sure what all the usuals are but what about engine earth? I had major battery problems a couple of years back, jumped in car one morning, everything lit up, she click, click, clicked , but wouldn't start. AA called, I expected it to be battery again, turned out was engine earth. Didn't have time to search for culprit, so new earth put on and vroom, vroom, I was on my way.

Sound s like a bad connection with the inhibit switch to me. Got in mine many a time with it in drive turned key and nothing then looked down and doh. Put in park and away she went.

By nothing you mean it doesn’t click?

Try turning on the lights etc, then when you turn the key see if they dim - means it is drawing power

I've done that not put gear lever to park position and wondered why it wouldn't start until I looked down and then felt like a pratt

RF interference draining battery?

It was the starter motor, I was just trying to not throw more money at it and I've never had a starter give me those symptoms before. F#£&ING car!!!

Thanks for the responses everyone

I striped mine and put it back together, lasted another 6months or so - was supposed to be until I got new one but once it’s working you leave it alone and only remember when it goes again

RangeRoller dt said:

I striped mine and put it back together, lasted another 6months or so - was supposed to be until I got new one but once it’s working you leave it alone and only remember when it goes again

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What colour stripes, does the colour choice affect performance?

Ginger Tom said:

It was the starter motor, I was just trying to not throw more money at it and I've never had a starter give me those symptoms before. F#£&ING car!!!

Thanks for the responses everyone

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Unusual but you can get a cheap replacement off the Bay.

DanClarke said:

What colour stripes, does the colour choice affect performance?

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Depends what stripey paint you got