C5 X7 Won't Start

[admiral51]

Hi all and Help

My good lady parked the car up Friday night and yesterday morning nothing but a click when trying to start it.
Battery is 18 months old and showing charge of 12.49 volts. All the dash lights come on and didn't dim when attempting to start. Tried a jump start and nothing but a click
Now that i have spent 40 minutes messing about with it economy mode has been triggered as soon as you turn the ignition on. Checked battery voltage again this morning and showing 12.35 volts.
I think the click is coming from the passenger side of the car, not sure if inside or out but definitely sounds like a relay click.
Marc has given me the part numbers and cost (£££££££ ) for the starter motor but am i missing something obvious. I can see the starter motor but cannot get near it to give it a whack.
Now i could try and bump start it but bear with me here. I can call out breakdown tomorrow morning and if it can't be repaired i can get it recovered to my trusted garage where i can have a courtesy car whilst they fix the old girl so should i leave it alone.
I am guessing it is on it's original starter motor and would be nearly 13 years ol.
Can i do a diagnostic session with the car in economy mode, i do have the kit ?
Any thoughts much appreciated

Colin

[RichardW]

What engine?

There's a starter fuse in the underbonnet fuse box, check this is not blown.

[GiveMeABreak]

Engine is the DW10CTED4 Richard - and I can't see any direct fuse listed on the ignition or starter circuit. The Starter solenoid connection (wire 100 on pin 4) seems to go directly to the ECU in the engine fusebox. MF8 and MF4 are BSI supplies, so I would expect a lot more issues if these fuses were faulty.

Traditionally a clicking on starting often indicates sticking brushes in the starter, so if you have home start, get them to test it and get it towed after Colin,

[mickthemaverick]

I'd go with Marc's advice there Colin but there is one simple thing you could try. You said you can see the starter motor so if you can thread a pole like a broom handle down onto it and then tap the upper end of the pole it may release the brushes if that is the issue. A few reasonable "taps" should do it if that is the issue. If it doesn't work back to Marc's advice!! Good Luck!

[Peter.N.]

The starter is quite easy to get to once you have removed the air intake hoses, try shorting the large and small terminals together, if that turns it you have an ignition circuit problem, possibly the ignition switch, if it doesn't check that you actually have 12v on the large terminal if so you probably have a faulty starter. You could short the two large terminals together if it has them but use an old screwdriver as it may well take some metal off the end, if that does it the solenoid is possibly faulty.

Peter

[moizeau]

I had this issue on my 407 RHR. A tap on the starter kept it going, then it started blowing the 20 amp starter solenoid fuse. With another pair of ears can you find where the clicking is coming from, relay or solenoid?
The solenoid is very easy to replace and cost 20 euros. If yours is the same set up I can find the part number out. It's a Mitsubishi brand.

[admiral51]

Thanks for the advice guys.
Think i will leave it for the breakdown service to see what they say and then hopefully get it recovered

Colin

[admiral51]

Well for once i was correct in my diagnosis, and so were you all
To be fair to Green Flag i called them @ 7:45 they arrived just on 9am, not bad bearing in mind the car was at home. Checked things over, yes starter motor at fault.
Asked where we wanted the car recovered to and by 10:15 it was delivered 15 miles away to my trusted garage.
Got a call from them @ 16:40 to say car ready to be collected £262.20 all in

Colin

[mickthemaverick]

Good to know its sorted, even if it does dent the Christmas pressie kitty. Just don't worry about our presents Colin and you should be ok

[admiral51]

I must admit it feels like it is Christmas Day already, although i think it will soon become Boxing Day.
I will be dropping SWIMBO over to collect the car in the morning and she has insisted on paying for it and not with our joint bank card.
Guess the next bombshell idea she has is going to cost me way more than £262

Colin

[moizeau]

Get the old starter back, bet it's the solenoid

[Peter.N.]

Well done Colin. I have had no end of trouble with my two, been able to fix it myself fortunately with your help. The silver one is running OK now except that it needs a cambelt, I've got it, all I need now is the inclination and energy to fit it. The red one has a slipping clutch among other things.

Peter

[bobins]

Well done Colin. I have had no end of trouble with my two, been able to fix it myself fortunately with your help. The silver one is running OK now except that it needs a cambelt, I've got it, all I need now is the inclination and energy to fit it. The red one has a slipping clutch among other things.

Peter

The slipping clutch is a feature and tends to be as a result of it being lazy to auto adjust. Best cure I've found is to thrash the gearbox a little once everything has warmed up. You don't need to go fast, but high rev it as you drive 1st / 2nd / 3rd and do one or two abrupt downchanges. Due to the design you can't do an abrupt up shift, but you can for a downshift. Problem goes away then

[Peter.N.]

I will try that Colin thanks. It only slips when the engine is at maximum torque, if you dont push it hard its fine. One of the problems I had was air in the fuel which would cause it to spontaneously stop or at least hesitate probably giving the clutch a workout, especially when my son was driving it!

Peter