NC won't start.

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Spac
Driver
Posts: 72
Joined: Thu Mar 01, 2018 8:32 pm
Vehicle: NC

NC won't start.

Postby Spac » Sun Dec 08, 2019 12:40 pm

Car was starting and driving perfectly, turned it off and now it won't trigger the starter motor.
The reds come on, but turning the key to the start position does absolutely nothing. No clicks, no dimming of the reds - nothing.
Battery is fully charged.
Car will push start easily and runs well.

Have confirmed that there's no power on the blue/red signal wire to the starter motor, regardless of key position.

Have tried:
Disconnecting and reconnecting the battery;
The other key;
Removing the electrical switch from the ignition barrel and turning the switch with a screw driver;
Pulling the electrical switch apart and checking all the contacts (no fault found);
Checked and re-seated all the fuses in both fuse boxes.


Any hints on where I should be looking from here?

07 complianced PRHT manual, if that makes any difference.

Mr Morlock
Speed Racer
Posts: 6444
Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2008 11:40 am
Vehicle: NB8B
Location: Melbourne

Re: NC won't start.

Postby Mr Morlock » Sun Dec 08, 2019 6:31 pm

check the phone number for the local auto electrician. I dont think pulling a switch apart is a really good idea.

Spac
Driver
Posts: 72
Joined: Thu Mar 01, 2018 8:32 pm
Vehicle: NC

Re: NC won't start.

Postby Spac » Sun Dec 08, 2019 9:31 pm

It's a very simple part.

93_Clubman
Speed Racer
Posts: 11719
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2005 11:35 pm
Vehicle: Clubman
Location: Melbourne

Re: NC won't start.

Postby 93_Clubman » Tue Dec 10, 2019 12:13 am

Spac wrote:Have confirmed that there's no power on the blue/red signal wire to the starter motor, regardless of key position.

Have you done anything to the vehicle recently, like charge the battery?
Does the vehicle have an aftermarket alarm fitted?
Is there power at the main wire that attaches to the starter motor?
If so, give the starter solenoid a couple of light taps with a hammer.

Spac
Driver
Posts: 72
Joined: Thu Mar 01, 2018 8:32 pm
Vehicle: NC

Re: NC won't start.

Postby Spac » Thu Dec 12, 2019 8:51 pm

93_Clubman wrote:
Spac wrote:Have confirmed that there's no power on the blue/red signal wire to the starter motor, regardless of key position.

Have you done anything to the vehicle recently, like charge the battery?
Does the vehicle have an aftermarket alarm fitted?
Is there power at the main wire that attaches to the starter motor?
If so, give the starter solenoid a couple of light taps with a hammer.


Yes. Car sits for months at a time, with the battery disconnected. It started straight away after re-connecting, and did so for a couple of dozen more times before deciding to not work.
No.
Yes.
The problem is that the blue/red wire to the starter doesn't even try to trigger the starter.

93_Clubman
Speed Racer
Posts: 11719
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2005 11:35 pm
Vehicle: Clubman
Location: Melbourne

Re: NC won't start.

Postby 93_Clubman » Fri Dec 13, 2019 10:58 am

If you recharged the battery at anytime, was the battery also connected to the vehicle positive & negative leads at the time of charging?
Given you've indicated there's power at the main starter motor wire, give the starter motor a couple of light taps with a hammer prior to starting & while trying to start if access allows.
Given you've indicated there's no power at the starter motor blue/red wire, you need to identify what the purpose of the blue/red wire is (I don't have an NC1 to check this on).
In the US, NC1, ie 2005-2008, starter motor solenoids fairly commonly fail.

Spac
Driver
Posts: 72
Joined: Thu Mar 01, 2018 8:32 pm
Vehicle: NC

Re: NC won't start.

Postby Spac » Sun Dec 15, 2019 8:36 pm

Sorted! Couldn't have been simpler: the starter fuse in the engine bay fusebox was blown.

Embarrassed that I'd spent some much time checking other stuff before looking properly at the fuse box... :oops:


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