My FTO wont start Anymore! Help!

briencrean · Post by **briencrean** » Fri May 30, 2008 9:44 am

Hi Everyone,

I recently bought a 1995 FTO GR. Everything was working fine for a while and then one day my car wouldn't start. I was stuck on the 3rd floor of a multi-story car park. I had to push start the car to get it home!

So I removed the starter as it intermittently did not start - I brought it to an auto-electrician who told me that the arm on the starter was dieing - he fully serviced it and i put it back on the car. Now the starter turns fine but the engine will not turn over!

I have checked the immobiliser, done a diagnostics and checked all fuses - I cant find anything wrong!

This is the procedure I used to remove the starter ->
1.) Jacked up the car at the front and propped it up with axel stands
2.) Detached the exhaust from the manifold to get at the starter
3.) Removed the bolts and wires connecting the starter to the car.
4.) I reversed the procedure to re-connect the starter after it was refurbished (Note: I did not disconnect the battery before attempting this as was pointed out in a previous D.I.Y post!)

Just a further Note I have a Clifford G5 650 MKII Alarm and I have reset it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I am lost - I dont know if I did anything wrong or what is causing the problem!

HELP!!

Thanks for reading

Brien

Post by **I8A4RE** » Fri May 30, 2008 10:29 am

Now the starter turns fine but the engine will not turn over!

What do you mean? When you turn the key what happens? Does the engine try to start eg turning over or is there just nothing

briencrean · Post by **briencrean** » Fri May 30, 2008 10:45 am

When I turn the key the starter turns fine as it should, better than before it was serviced but the engine does not kick in or turn over. Im not sure if the flywheel is being engaged by the starter pinion properly or if fuel has been cut off some how to the engine?

The relays in the fuse box are clicking and I get a quiet sucking noise as if the engine is trying to suck in air or fuel?

One of my friends reckon that when I disconnected the exhaust I may have tripped a sensor?

Edit: Just read your post again I8A4RE! Its sounds like the engine is trying to turn over but it never quite gets there - Before the starter was removed I could push start the car but now even with the starter replaced a push start doesnt even work!!

Post by **I8A4RE** » Fri May 30, 2008 12:07 pm

So whats your battery like? does it have enough power to give the starter what it needs? Do you have spark.?

One of my friends reckon that when I disconnected the exhaust I may have tripped a sensor?

I doubt it but check your error codes if your worried about

So if the starter is turning engine over but the engine wont start then you need to check if you have fuel and spark

Post by **I8A4RE** » Fri May 30, 2008 12:10 pm

You also said that you didnt disconnect the battery when you were replacing the starter......... Did you short anything. CHECK ALL FUSES FIRST

Post by **vipfto** » Fri May 30, 2008 1:45 pm

I8A4RE wrote:You also said that you didnt disconnect the battery when you were replacing the starter......... Did you short anything. CHECK ALL FUSES FIRST

agreed check fuses and battery load test first
if not those then definatly sounds like fuel/spark problem

payaya · Post by **payaya** » Fri May 30, 2008 7:06 pm

Have someone try start your car and someone looking at the drive belts. Do your pulleys spin????

briencrean · Post by **briencrean** » Sat May 31, 2008 10:05 am

Thanks for your replies and suggestions everyone. I have been at the car for the last while.

I checked all fuses inside and out, all were fine.
I did the diagnostics test as posted on
http://www.ftowa.com/html/workshop/workshopart07.html

It showed that there were no codes stored in the ECU - It flashed continuously (although it was flashing almost twice per second - not sure if that suggests anything?)

My battery reads 10 volts with a multimeter and I have tested the charge going to the motor - Its also 10 Volts. The power of my battery is starting to drain as the alternator is not able to recharge it for the last 5 days.

I now have one major problem - the copper bolt that sticks out of the starter's body for the positive connection from the battery has sheared (due to me tightening it too much, stupidly!) so I had to stick the connection on with tape which is not working properly!

I'm bringing it to the auto-electrician tomorrow morning to replace the bolt and test the motor!- No point in doing anything until then!

I'll update once I get the motor back on the car!

Thanks

Brien

Post by **I8A4RE** » Sat May 31, 2008 11:09 am

10 volts? of course your car wont start then it needs to be 12+. My battery sits at 12.73 volts when switched off

briencrean · Post by **briencrean** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 3:30 am

I8A4RE wrote:10 volts? of course your car wont start then it needs to be 12+. My battery sits at 12.73 volts when switched off

Ok I got the starter positive connection fixed this morning by the auto-electrician and fitted the starter back on my FTO - I then charged my battery to 12+ Volts by jump starting from another car and it started first time!!! Thanks for that I8A4RE.

It is running fine now but needs a service

Thanks for your help everyone!

Im so glad to be driving my FTO again

Thanks again

Brien

Post by **I8A4RE** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 10:41 am

No worries man glad your going again