405 gld intermitent starting

kataylor · Unread post by **kataylor** » 12 Feb 2004, 14:07

My '90 405 gld has starting issues. Often key turning just produces a (relay?) click. Sometimes repeated endurance key turning does the trick and the car burst into life, sometimes not!
Advice offered is overwhelmingly contradictory from well meaning family and friends!
Peace, Kevin ([email protected])

Russell · Unread post by **Russell** » 12 Feb 2004, 17:57

Hi Kevin,
1) Check the battery is at 12.5 - 12.8V or more, and that when the car is running the battery voltage is normally up around 14V. If it's not the battery or charging system, then:
Before you next have a clicking solonoid episode, try this.
Get a wire that can pass a reasonable current, a core from some 13Amp mains cable would do. It needs to be long enough to get from the starter solonoid to the battery positive plus a bit of slack. You may need a releasable tie wrap too!
Check your starter motor solonoid. It will have a thumping great cable from the battery to a big bolt down terminal, and a much smaller connection, probably on a ring tag to an adjacent stud. Often this stud has a spade connector terminal as well that is not used. You need to make a decent connection to this smaller terminal with your wire.
If it has an unused spade terminal, crimp a spade receptacle on your bit of wire, otherwise, crimp a ring tag on, and bolt it on with another M6? nut. Crimp something on the other end so you can make a connection to the battery.
Test: check you are in nuetral, ignition to heating glow plugs, leap out of car and run round to open bonnet, with wire attached to solonoid.
Keeping your fingers on the insulation, touch and hold the wire you have made to the battery positive, it will spark a little and the starter should turn over nicely, and the car bursts into life. Take the connection away. Coil up the wire neatly, and tie it to something that won't get too hot
If it does, you can coil up the wire neatly and secure it to something with the releasable tie-wrap: you have a get you home kit installed, for those dodgy moments when it looks as if the car won't start.
If this mod doesn't turn the start over easily, check battry condition again, Earths on the starter motor and battery and connection to engine, +ve feed to starter motor for looseness, starter mounting bolts for tightness and good connection to ground.
If this works, and the ignition system still doesn't, you have poor connetion between your ignition switch and the starter solonoid
Let us know how you get on.
Cheers
Russell [:)][:)]

red161 · Unread post by **red161** » 13 Feb 2004, 04:42

My 93 405td has this problem too, clicks a few times like a really flat battery (even though its a newie) and then suddenly just starts, it will start every time though
But now the HG has gone! see my other topic..
red161

kataylor · Unread post by **kataylor** » 17 Feb 2004, 00:13

Thanks Russell. Your blow by blow account was really thorough. It did the job and so no more frantic key twisting again. Ever. Down with french electrics and up with Peugeot Forums.
Peace, Kevin.

kataylor · Unread post by **kataylor** » 24 Mar 2004, 21:06

The MOT is looming. Can I expect my car with this 'home made starting kit'(as described above by Russell)attached to pass the eye of the tester? If the car needs to be started with this little modification at the MOT centre will this be a problem?
What is the easiest way to solve the problem so that the bonnet does not need to be popped when it won't start

Unread post by **philhoward** » 26 Mar 2004, 01:35

Fit a pushbutton to a spare switch hole (a few quid from a decent car accessory shop - not Halfords cos they charge £20 for a boy-racer chrome one) and just explain it has a pushbutton start!

kataylor · Unread post by **kataylor** » 02 Apr 2004, 16:57

Cheers Philhoward. Got the starter button for £2.50 (actually labelled as such on the packaging). Fitted it in my glove box (out of sight). Works like a dream.