Won't Start

[chrisbrooks]

Hi all, went to start my 04 C5 the other day to find that it was flat (standing still for a couple of weeks) so charged/tested battery  and found that it couldn't hold any charge, fitted new battery (£68.00) ouch,and after making sure that it was fully charged switched on and nothing, just put the dash lights out but absolutely no response from the starter. It did sound a bit lazy the last time it did start so am thinking possibly a duff starter motor,  any ideas before I start down the replacement road????

 

Best regards and a happy new year to all,

 

Chris Brooks

[seefive]

When I had a flat battery on my old Mk 2 C5 and I called out the cavalry for a jump start, I had to wait a couple of minutes with the key in the ignition position, before the starter turned over. It was completely dead initially, even though the lights came on OK

 

[Johndouglas]

After fitting the new battery did you do the reboot procedure?   On the off chance you didn't, here it is:-


Put the driver's window down, lift the bonnet and ensure all equipment is switched off.
Ensure all doors are closed and remove key from the ignition.
Wait for 3 minutes, disconnect the vehicle battery and wait 15 seconds.
Reconnect the vehicle battery, wait a further 10 seconds (do not open doors.).
Switch on the side lights through the driver's window.
Switch on the ignition and check system's functionality.
Hold lock button on key down for 10 seconds.
Remove key open & close door test central locking system.
Start the engine and complete the system's check.
Reset the clock and date.
 

[chrisbrooks]

Hi John,

 

Thanks for replying so fast, unfortunately I can't get the window to operate to comply with the boot up procedure. Bamboozled!

 

Chris Brooks.

[Johndouglas]

Have you checked the battery leads - not only the positive to the starter but the neg to earth?

[chrisbrooks]

Hi again,

 

yes I have checked and cleaned up the leads but not any change,oddly when I tried using  the spare key and fob, holding the button down for ten seconds did turn all the dash lights off as if trying to reset but nothing happened.

 Back to the drawing board!

[chrisbrooks]

As I can't lower the windows would it work with two of us going through the reboot procedure ie one inside and one on the outside or is lowering the window part of the sequence?

 

regards,

 

Chris

[Johndouglas]

I think you might have hit on a solution there.   Give it a try.

[chrisbrooks]

HI John,

 

Tried the reboot with two of us ..no joy , but we did discover that the starter motor was koofered, braided earth was badly burnt and on testing off the car found it was shorting inside also the brushes are worn away to nothing, with all the electronic wizardry on these cars i'm surprised a warning light didn't show up!

I suppose it follows that with the starter shorting internally it would result in a flat battery.

 

Regards,  Chris.

[coastline taxis]

thanks for coming back with the cure

[chrisbrooks]

Hi again John,

 

Well the replacement starter motor arrived and it stopped raining yesterday afternoon long enough to fit it,and SUCCESS, everything is working again.  Fortunately my youngest son is very handy and fitted it while I was enjoying a short unexpected stay in hospital, so now everything is up and running again.

 Thanks for your help and patience...till the next time, all the best.

 

Chris.

[Johndouglas]

That's good news.   It's a great feeling when your sick car is up and running again.   May you and your car keep well.

[chrisbrooks]

 Cheers John.