Wont START

[LiaMerc]

Hey all,

Today i went to start the ol girl whom had been sitting there for about two weeks? And Nothing??  ???Now before everyone replies with did you check the battery! Yes haha 
Everythingg comes up on the dash (lights) and the fuel pump kicks in but not engine turn?? I've checked the fuses in the engine compartment, tried moving the gear lever into neutral and then back into park, turned the engine over by hand (very hard i may add) and given the ol starter a whack hoping to help the situation??

Now have i checked everything?  :-[Is there anything else i can try/ do?

Its a 78 450SEL 6.9 and would start first time everytime last fortnight?

Any info would be appreciated..
Cheers

LiaMerc

[13B]

Pour a small qty of petrol down the intake and see if it 'kicks' or starts momentarily.  If it does then suspect your fuel supply system... pump, filter, accumulator.

I.

[TJ 450]

The starter doesn't turn at all? The first suspect is the starter lockout switch. I would try moving the selector back and forth a few times to clean the contacts and then try again. It is usually a case of too much resistance in the circuit to activate the solenoid.

Do you have an immobiliser?

Tim

[LiaMerc]

Ill try that Tim, thats what it feels like and did try but i'll try a few more times and see if anything changes?

Is it a common thing or just something that happens??

Anyways thanks again.

[LiaMerc]

The starter doesn't turn at all? The first suspect is the starter lockout switch. I would try moving the selector back and forth a few times to clean the contacts and then try again. It is usually a case of too much resistance in the circuit to activate the solenoid.

Do you have an immobiliser?

Tim

And no immobiliser!!!

[TJ 450]

It has happened to my 450 when it has been parked outside in cold weather on a few occasions.

TIm

[LiaMerc]

Nup, tried it for 30 mins..... Moved it back and forward about 200 times moved the car back into park then neutral??
Do you think i'm going to have to remove the centre console and have a better look??

Now that i think of it i wonder if i happened to turn the ignition off in drive before putting into park? Should that make any difference??

Help??

[TJ 450]

The switch is actually under the car, on the transmission itself. It may also be the ignition switch, or the solenoid itself. Are you certain that the battery is fully charged?

I think it may be time to get out the multimeter. Did you move the fuses around to clean the contacts? I would start there, then check to see if the solenoid is getting power. I know, the starter motor is not in the best position for such things.

Edit: Have you tried starting the car in Neutral as well as Park and moving the shifter through the full range?

Tim

[Big_Richard]

can you hear the starter solenoid click when you put the key into start? - in N or P... this is the most obvious question that should been the first thing asked.


Low battery voltage can still be the culprit for even this.

[LiaMerc]

Nothing, everything as normal turn key all lights on dash and you can hear fuel pump kick in and nothing else? No ticks from starter or movement its like i have turned it to start yet just accesories??
Battery is fine and full charge!!

I'll get the multi meter out and check fuses and solenoids soon as.

Thanks again

[nathan]

as ian said,
try taking off the air filter and poor some petrol  (1/2 cap of ie fly spray can top or whatever lid you have)...then turn the carover...if its the fuel system it will temporarly start then die as it runs out of fuel. at least will give you your answer. just dont go pouring 1L of fuel down there!

[TJ 450]

as ian said,
try taking off the air filter and poor some petrol  (1/2 cap of ie fly spray can top or whatever lid you have)...then turn the carover...if its the fuel system it will temporarly start then die as it runs out of fuel. at least will give you your answer. just dont go pouring 1L of fuel down there!

That's only good if the starter is functioning. 

Tim

[LiaMerc]

as ian said,
try taking off the air filter and poor some petrol  (1/2 cap of ie fly spray can top or whatever lid you have)...then turn the carover...if its the fuel system it will temporarly start then die as it runs out of fuel. at least will give you your answer. just dont go pouring 1L of fuel down there!

Its not actually turning over...... Its like i have another turn of the key to start or turn over the engine but nothing happens? Reminds me of trying to start a car with the selector left in (D) drive??
Maybe i just have to talk to her softly??

[Big_Richard]

if the fuel pump is activating in start position, you can exclude the ignition switch.

Its going to be the inhibitor switch or the starter solenoid.

solenoid is easy enough to test with a multimeter.

[oscar]

I'm gonna harp on about the battery again.  Sorry Liam, don't shoot me down just yet, hear me out first   The thing is, everything has been mentioned.  
- Either the starter solenoid that throws out the gear is kaput or it's siezed or not receiving power which could trace back to a few places like an earth
- The neutral switch like TJ says could be it
- but lastly (the hear me out bit) you can charge up a battery all night and show 12V across the terminals afterwards but doesn't have enough power to power up that solenid.  PB's right, I had a DIN88 supercharge battery in my 350 and whilst I thought it was fine and fairly new (couple years) would show full charge after charging overnight and it would start but the next day, it would be cactus again.  Everything came on, instrument cluster, fuel pump etc, everything except the starter.  Only a new battery fixed that problem.

I'm not saying the battery is definitely the problem, just don't discount it yet as not being the issue.  I'd at least try and jump start it first than move on to the other areas mentioned.  Good luck.