E30 Zone

Hi,

I am really puzzled by a sudden starting problem my car has developed in the last 24 hours.

It started with the car doing nothing for a second or two when the ignition was held in the normal starting position - it would then start as normal.

The next two starts had a longer pause, with the final one being about 3 - 4 seconds before the starter motor sprang to life and the car started normally. Apart from that, all i noticed was that cranking seemed a little less lively than usual, but i put that down to the freezing temperatures.

Now, when I turn the ignition key, all the dash lights light up as normal, but nothing happens at all (the starter motor doesn't even kick in). If I am not mistaken, the fuel pump doesn't sound like it is priming either.

I have checked all fuses, and all is fine. I have also scoured the 'tech help' forum, and nothing even seems remotely similar.

Any ideas/help greatly appreciated. The car is a 1990 m20b25 coupe.

P.S. I had been working on my driver's door lock, and had had the mechanism out etc, as I had a strange central locking problem (lifting the door handle caused the car to lock itself). Could this be linked at all?

Try operating the starter motor by linking pins 11 and 14 of the diagnostic socket (big round socket with a screw on cover, top, front of the engine.
Does this make it crank normally?
Locking problem is most likely a misalignment between the lock barrel and the microswitch mounted on the plate that fits around it, for some reason. Can't see any direct link between this and the cranking problem.

Thanks for the advice Brian - bizarrely, I went out to it around lunchtime and tried starting it again(it has been tucked up in a warm garage all night) , and it cranked first time and sprung into life.

The starter motor didn't sound as energetic as normal though, so I thought I would take a punt and buy a new battery. One brand new 'Bosch Silver' later, and it is now very healthy.

I just hope it stays that way, and that the alternator isn't on the way out. The battery is around 2 years old, but I would have expected a little more service life from it, especially as the car is used almost daily.

Thanks again though - at least I know how to test the starter motor in future now

^^^^ remember to put the car in neutral!!!

Good point Mr.Lee-Could be a life saver!!

I also have experienced shortened battery life and it turned out to be poor alternator earthing, a subject that has been covered at great length on here. Hope you sorted your issue for good