159 Not Starting

[V AR 164]

Hi all,

So the past week I've been having an issue with the 159. I put the key in the slot in the dash, everything lights up and the fuel pump primes, I depress the brake/ clutch and then press the start button. Nothing. Well, I should say it looks like it does something cause when I press it, the dash lights dim slightly (like all cars usually do when the starter motor engages) but nothing.

So far I have tested the battery with a century battery tester, it's fine, put it on charge for good measure and even tried jumping it with my 4wd. Nothing. So I then checked all the fuses and fuse-able links in the engine bay, pulled them all out and out them back, tapped the box a few times and the other day I hopped back in and it started right up.

Another time it didn't start, I sat in the car for a while waiting for the rain to go away to get out, 5 minutes passed and tried to start it and it started fine. I've noticed it only does it after it's been sitting for a while/ gone cold.

Also to add to the weridness, yesterday I pulled the key out of the ignition after I drove the car, and the horn came on... Put the key back in and it went off. I removed the fuse and out it back in this morning and it's back to normal again.

Not really sure what's going on, done some research but I've tried pretty much everything already to no avail.

Any suggestions?
Thanks, Andrew.

[bonno]

Sounds like corroded battery terminals. Give them a good clean by scraping surface internally and battery posts. If this does not fix it, I would be focusing on  a bad earth somewhere on the car (refer to common earth point/s to car chassis). 

[bazzbazz]

In the fuse box that attaches to the Battery Terminal there is a little black box with a yellow button, give the button a good press.
It's the Electronic Impact Disable, it can get a little dicky sometimes.

Did you check the terminals to the starter motor?

[V AR 164]

Thanks for the tips guys,

Battery terminals are squeaky clean. You have a good point about chassis grounds and such, I'm going to have a look over them all tonight.

I pressed that yellow button and nothing, I've even disconnected the battery and left the car for a while in hopes to reset the computers and even that didn't help.

I'd say it's a ground issue or the starter solenoid/ connections. Is the starter easy to get too on a 2.4 manual?

Cheers, Andrew

[Craig_m67]

Any other odd symptoms, ie.  radio has forgotten stations/codes, trip meter has reset, glow plug lamp doesn't go out?

[V AR 164]

Nope, nothing else to report, only thing that was recent was the horn issue.

So far I've disconnected the power leads to the starter motor and cleaned them, *tapped* the starter solenoid with a hammer, cleaned multiple ground points and checked fuses again. Went to start the car and again nothing.

However, as I was messing around with the key,  I turned the headlights on pressed the start button and it instantly cranked over. I immediately turned the car off, and ever since then it has started first time, headlights on or off. But I can almost guarantee tomorrow morning it won't start again.

Not sure what to do, probably need to send it off to an auto elec.

Cheers, Andrew.

[bazzbazz]

Needs proper diagnostics carried out on it to give you at least a starting point.

The TEG key reader can sometimes play up and cause problems similar to what you are experiencing.

[carlo rossi]

if they is no sound or a click from starter
it could be corroded brush on the stater
get a rubber mallet and a large screwdriver
look on the starter for a large philips head screw  im mean big on the side there should be 2
put the screw driver on the cross and give it a good whack
this will loosen and brushes
get back to us