Today's Dumb Question

[P_Monty 2]

I recently had to replace the LH headlight on my PH1.5 205 1.9. After I'd done this, the car refused to start - not even a click from the starter. Initially I assumed I'd disturbed something as the battery is right behind the lamp - but it all looks O.K. The lights were bright and the battery volts didn't drop from around 12.5 as I turned the key. I've had a quick prowl round the forum and I think its either:

The infamous brown multiplug

or

The starter solenoid - Looking at the Haynes book I'm guessing its actually built into the starter.

 

This weekend I'm going to get the car on the axle stands and have a good prod around with a meter, but here are the dumb questions.

1) Could it be something else I've not thought of?

2)Where exactly is the brown multiplug?

3) Silliest of all - where exactly is the starter motor - I couldn't see it from above and I haven't been underneeth yet - are the terminals accesible ?

 

Thanks...

[blessed6383 0]

ummmm those bloody brown multiplugs it should be above the gearbox iirc 7 wires in and out and it connects to the starter so may well be the problem,

the starter is under the inlet manifold if you look from underneath you will see it along the front of the block and bolts to the gearbox

Edited September 8, 2010 by blessed6383

[steve@cornwall 100]

ummmm those bloody brown multiplugs it should be above the gearbox iirc 7 wires in and out and it connects to the starter so may well be the problem,

the starter is under the inlet manifold if you look from underneath you will see it along the front of the block and bolts to the gearbox

 

Check the shunt box that's normally mounted to the slam panel behind the headlight, will likely be moved if you have a K&N etc, in which case just follow the positive cables from the battery untill you find it!. either one of the wires has corroded and detatched when disturbed, or in my case I knocked out one of the two "fuse" bridges when refitting the oversized battery - giving symptoms such as yours.

[davev 1]

or looking abit closer to where you worked. you could check you have not knocked any of the earth cables off its block. as thats right next to the headlight.

 

also i believe the main power distribution box(usually bolted to the slam panel above the headlight) affects it. just check that the connections are secure and not broken(and remember its a direct positive so disconnect the battery )

[P_Monty 2]

Hi guys - thanks for that.

I forgot to mention that I had checked the shunt box and all the wires coming out of it seemed O.K. I'll give it another check though....

 

Cheers.

[P_Monty 2]

O.K. Some progress. With a croc clip on the battery neg and a bulb on a bit of wire, I've found a core in the multiway which goes on and off as I turn the key to 'start'. Both sides of the multiway do this so I'm happy that's O.K.

Next, I want to try the same trick on the starter contacts. But, for the life of me I can't see the starter - where is it ?? The Haynes book suggests I need to take of the inlet manifold if I'm going to remove the starter, but I'm hoping that's not necessary. I've got the car up on axle stands but I can't see anything that looks like a starter motor from above or below...

 

(And yes, I do feel clueless for asking that)

[blniasgti 0]

The starter is located directly under ther inlet manifold but to the right hand side... i never had to remove my inlet manifold to remove the starter but just undo it so i could jiggle it to bring the starter past...... hope this helps ?

Edited September 10, 2010 by blniasgti

[P_Monty 2]

Yes, that did help thanks - at least I can see it now ...

[P_Monty 2]

Another small step forwards...

I got my bulb onto the metal of the connector the feeds the solenoid and it lit up when they key was turned. So I think either:

a) The big heavy duty supply to the motor has broken (I find that hard to believe) or)

The starter motor itself is kaput.

 

Have I missed any other options?

 

Thanks...

[jackherer 543]

The third possibility is an earth problem, the negative return for the starter is through its body to the engine/gearbox then an earth wire from the top of the gearbox goes to the negative post on the battery.

[P_Monty 2]

Update:

 

Thanks for all the replies. I used a jump lead to go straight from the battery neg to a convenient part of the engine block - lo and behold not only did the starter turn the car actually fired up. It ran as rough as anything because I'd got various hoses off to improve the view.

 

So, I reconnected everything and now its running. So, I'm chuffed at that, but a little uncomfortable as I didn't actually find and fix a problem... Just to be on the safe side I might replace some of the Earths as I'm speculating that the flappy rev counter may be due to a dodgy Earth on the ignition module.

 

One od thing though - I don't have an Earth block behind the light. The lead off the battery neg blots onto the plate the coil sits on and then 2 more cables come off that and disappear into the bowels of the engine bay...

 

Still - I'm happy - thanks again :-)

[davev 1]

the earth block will just be a block connector bolted to the headlight panel, look somewere between the rad and headlight. it will have a fair few small earth wires going to it, and could have a plastic bag type thing over it.(p.s. it doesnt connect to the battery, its just a common earth point for components)

 

though saying when you put a earth to the engine it works, then its doubtfull that it will be the problem as the starter should earth through the main gearbox earth. that one bolts straight from the gearbox to battery so should be easy enough to find.

[P_Monty 2]

Cheers Dave. I'm half tempted to go through the heavy duty stuff and replace every wire I can get my hands on with new as some of them look a little corroded...