Help, My 309 Won't Start

[pyrrhic 14 2 Cars]

My 309 has the 1360 cc engine with fuel injection. Currently the car won't start and I need help pinpointing the culprit.

 

For as long as I owned the car (about a year) the car always started right up at the first turn of the key: not even a hiccup when I turned the key. One problem I had was the key was stuck in the ignition, so for a while I had to kill the engine by dumping the clutch while pressing the brake, then had to manually disconnect the battery.

 

I recently got a new (to me) ignition key and cylinder and a few days ago installed it on the car. I disassembled the lower dash, pulled the old cylinder and the wires off the car, installed the new one, tried starting the car and nothing... engine turns but there is no start. I continued assembling the dash, and five minutes later tried to start the car again and it started right up. I left it running while I assembled the dash. When I was done I drove the car out of the garage where I was working, parked the car outside, turned it off, and went back inside to clean up.

 

When I return to the car it wouldn't start at all: with the key on the START position the engine will just turn and turn and turn, with no start. I thought it might have been the new ignition key and cylinder, so I got my old one (the one with the key stuck in it), connected the wires to where they go by the fuse box, attmepted starting but nothing happened: no start, just engine turning. So the problem doesn't seem to be with the iginition cylinder: it won't start with either old or new.

 

I checked for fuel: got it, no fuel supply problem. I checked for spark: got it, still sparking. So now I am dumb founded: how come this car won't start? Is there a start module somewhere? A start relay perhaps? Are my sparks too weak to ignite the fuel, perhaps an ignition module somewhere?

 

If I don't getthis car started within the next two weeks I'll most likely junk it as it has some rust too and it's just a winter beater. I'd hate to junk a 309 with a full GTI interior...

[jackherer 543]

It's probably related to the connectors for the ignition barrel as that's what you've been changing. Check that the individual terminals in the multiplugs are in good condition and secure in the plastic casings then ensure they actually connect when you plug the plastic parts together.

[pyrrhic 14 2 Cars]

I was working in the blind when I connected the plugs, is there an easy way to pull out the fuse box without breaking it? I couldn't find a way to do it.

[jackherer 543]

You'll need someone that knows left hand drive 309s to answer that, I'm used to the fusebox being in the glove box and not near the ignition!

[pyrrhic 14 2 Cars]

But isn't the fuse box hinged at the front end the same as on mine? How do I release the hinge part?

[jackherer 543]

The RHD fuse box is hinged at the back, the hinges are a kind of ball joint that is clamped in place by the glove box itself IIRC, quite a lot has to come apart to release the hinges.

[huwjones 0]

Are you sure you have fuel and spark? There has to be something else wrong if you have both, as that's all the engine needs!

 

I suspect you are losing a live feed to the ignition module while the key is in the start position. Do you have a voltmeter?

 

Try leaving the key in the on (not start) position and use a wire to get 12v onto the solenoid and then see if it starts up.

[309jazzpanda 41]

Have you taken the dash trim back off to check everything is fully pushed together. Sounds dumb I know but the amount of time I have put a plug on and the terminal outside has not been touching its contact ..

[pyrrhic 14 2 Cars]

Well, I pulled the old ignition completely off. Cleaned the contacts on the fuse box and new ignition with contact cleaner, added some dielectric grease to the connector,s pushed it in real good, and voila, it works. The car starts now like nothing ever happened. Must have been a French gremlin in the car...