Vectra - will not start!

[cjd]

I have a Vectra 1.8ls (P reg 1997, 112000miles), it started up fine this morning, stopped at a shop a couple down the road, and it would not turn over or fire up again.

When turning the ignition key it click, as if the starter motor was faulty, and all the electrics dimmed on the dash.

The battery seem fine as it has the indicator showing green, and all the electrics in the car work fine (windows, radio,c-locking, these have not worked with a previous flat battery).

I bump started the car, which started up easily, and noticed that the ABS and Engine Management light were on. drove back home stop then tried to start it up again, the same happened again, but I noticed after the clicking from starter motor and releasing the key, a different clicking noise came form the relays behind the battery (relay No 19), until the key was taken out.

Any help much appreciated
Chris D

 

[steveb]

"cjd" removed the Cloak of Invisibility and
wrote:

Any help much appreciated

Check the earth straps...especially the one between the engine and the body.

Quick way is to connect a jump lead between the top of the engine (hoist bracket) and battery negative

steveb

 

[Duncan Wood]

On Sun, 30 Mar 2003 20:43:11 +0100, cjd wrote:

I have a Vectra 1.8ls (P reg 1997, 112000miles), it started up fine this morning, stopped at a shop a couple down the road, and it would not turn over or fire up again.

When turning the ignition key it click, as if the starter motor was faulty, and all the electrics dimmed on the dash.

The battery seem fine as it has the indicator showing green, and all the electrics in the car work fine (windows, radio,c-locking, these have not worked with a previous flat battery).

...

Sounds like a duff battery or a starter motor with a short. If yo can jump start it then it's almost certainly the battery (the green indicators are pretty useless).

 

[Mike (3)]

i would plumb for either the earth strap on the battery loose battery terminals or faulty starter motor solonoid.

to check if it is the solonoid sticking.
put the car in gear & give it a shove
u should then hear or find the solonoid has dropped out. in extreme cases, it will not & only a good belt with a hammer will dislodge it.

if the terminals/earth strap r good & the battery passes a discharge test

then i'd move toward a replacement starter.

mike

"cjd" wrote:

I have a Vectra 1.8ls (P reg 1997, 112000miles), it started up fine this morning, stopped at a shop a couple down the road, and it would not turn over or fire up again.

When turning the ignition key it click, as if the starter motor was

faulty,

and all the electrics dimmed on the dash.

The battery seem fine as it has the indicator showing green, and all the electrics in the car work fine (windows, radio,c-locking, these have not worked with a previous flat battery).

I bump started the car, which started up easily, and noticed that the ABS and Engine Management light were on. drove back home stop then tried to start it up again, the same happened again, but I noticed after the

clicking

from starter motor and releasing the key, a different clicking noise came form the relays behind the battery (relay No 19), until the key was taken out.

Any help much appreciated
Chris D

---

 

[Tink]

I hardly know anything about cars but I had the same problem not long since with my Astra, turned out that there was a fault in the distrubutar cap some connection was loose, worth looking into Hope this is of some help

Tink

"cjd" wrote:

I have a Vectra 1.8ls (P reg 1997, 112000miles), it started up fine this morning, stopped at a shop a couple down the road, and it would not turn over or fire up again.

When turning the ignition key it click, as if the starter motor was

faulty,

and all the electrics dimmed on the dash.

The battery seem fine as it has the indicator showing green, and all the electrics in the car work fine (windows, radio,c-locking, these have not worked with a previous flat battery).

I bump started the car, which started up easily, and noticed that the ABS and Engine Management light were on. drove back home stop then tried to start it up again, the same happened again, but I noticed after the

clicking

from starter motor and releasing the key, a different clicking noise came form the relays behind the battery (relay No 19), until the key was taken out.

Any help much appreciated
Chris D

 

[malcolm burton]

It could be a duff battery. Those green indicators only measure one cell. The fault warning lights have probably logged a "battery voltage low" fault code. A good battery shop are usually willing to do a free battery test.

 

[Vamp]

i had a very similar prob in my Cav, battery showed ok but wouldn't start but radio worked and everything else but it all dimmed when it tried to turn over. new battery sorted it.

"malcolm burton" wrote:

It could be a duff battery. Those green indicators only measure one cell. The fault warning lights have probably logged a "battery voltage low"

fault

code. A good battery shop are usually willing to do a free battery test.

 

[cjd]

Thanks for all the replies, but I've booked it into my favorite garage.

Earth / -tve connections to the engine and battery seem fine. I'm not convinced their is a fault with the battery, as I have flattened it before and none of the electrics would work then, but I could be wrong! I can hardly get my hand to the starter motor, never mind a hammer!

So its going to the garage were they can easily find out what the fault codes are showing as I am more concerned about these, than the battery or starter motor.

Half the problem seem to be the fact that everything is jammed so tight into the engine bay, but then again over the last two years it been one of the most reliable 2nd hand cars I have owned.

So I'm not sure what's best an older car that's easy to work on or newer car that's more reliable but inaccessible?

Thanks!
Chris D.

 

[steveb]

"cjd" removed the Cloak of Invisibility and
wrote:

So I'm not sure what's best an older car that's easy to work on or newer car that's more reliable but inaccessible?

Older well-maintained cars are generally no less reliable than new cars...in my experience...

steveb