Hi,

I have a problem with starter not engaging.
The Brava has been garaged for a while (deceased mother's car)

Bought new battery, but when turned key orange key code light comes on then goes off. Thought it might be a coding problem, but found several threads that show that is not the problem. Phew...as I don't have the red key

I am guessing that it might be the starter/solenoid.
Car is automatic so cannot push start.
I will check that it has 12v supply.
If it does can I check by sorting across the starter?

The car had internittent starting problem before being garaged. I saw another thread about the earth lead between the chassis and gearbox being a problem. I will check this out too

Am I going in the right direction with this?
Anyone have any other suggestions about what I could be checking?
Many thanks

well you get 10/10 from me for using the search function.

you're correct the code light coming on then switching off is normal behaviour.

you said the starter motor does not engage, i'm not sure if that is what you actually mean. when the motor does not engage the flywheel you can hear the starter motor turning at full speed but the engine does not turn over at all. if that is your problem then the fault is the starter motor solenoid.

if your problem is the starter motor turning the engine ok but the engine wont start then check for a spark at the plugs, no spark means the crankshaft position sensor is the problem.

if your problem is the starter motor turning too slowly it means the battery is not giving enough cold cranking amps or the earth strap is defective.

if your problem is the starter motor not turning at all then you may have a starter motor fault or a fault in its circuit or its solenoid. try hitting it with a hammer (seriously)

Hi Jug,

Many thanks for your quick reply.
the problem I have is that the starter motor does not start at all.
I will have ago hitting it with a hammer and get back to you
Thanks again

nothing at all, not even a click? in that case it may be stuck (hammer time) or it may not be getting any power (check using multimeter) or its earth may be dodgy (check earth strap from gearbox to chassis and check for continutiy from startermotor earth to chassis with multimeter)

I get nothing at all.
I will check with a multimeter to see if I get 12v using different earths (starter motor and chassis) as well as checking continuity of the earth.

Something else to mention is that when I connect the battery there is an audible beeping for about 30 seconds that seems to repeat every so often, but stops after I insert they key into the ignition.

I have not driven the car myself (it was my mothers) is this anything that I should worry about?

Many thanks again

strange, does it have remote central locking and alarm?

Not sure about central locking and alarm. I will get a chance to have a look at the car again tomorrow as working away at present. Thanks again will hopefully feedback with some good news over the weekend

Not much progress I am afraid. The beeping stops if I leave the battery connected. 12v on starter motor, hit it a few times but no difference.
Will check earth strap continuity on weekend. If that is ok maybe a new starter needed?

well we know the starter motor is getting a 12v signal, if it also has a good earth then we can be 100% sure the starter motor is the problem. the solenoid may be stuck, in which case you can sometimes grease it up to free it. for that reason it may be worth whiel removing the starter motor to see if you can fix it before you buy a replacement. failing that a scrapyard motor will be £20-30. but fingers crossed its just a bad earth.

She starts!!
Decided to give the starter a thump again.
Topped up the battery and off she went
I will need to check the earth strap though
Thanks for everything Jug
Cheers

Glad to hear its going ok.
A point to bear in mind with automatics is that that there is always an interlock which will inhibit starter operation if cars is in gear, or brake is not pressed.

Hi there,
Not sure if this thread will get picked up, but I thought I would try here first
The Brava now has an MOT, but there is a problem with what I think is a sensor

When I open the door, sometimes I hear a beeping sound.
When the beeping sound is there I cannot start the car.
I remembered that this is the same beeping that occurs when driving in reverse

If I move the (auto) gear stick slightly I can get the beeping to stop.
Then I can start the car.

So, in theory I can use the Brava now...I know its a while since I first posted this thread, but based on the problem above I am assuming that there is a sensor somewhere that is not happy with the gear stick position.

Does anyone have any experience with this kind of problem?
Cheers

its beeping because it doesnt think it is in P.

does the beeping stop when you press the brake pedal?

I don't think it stops when I press the brake pedal.
I will check tonight

Hi,
Pressing the brake pedal does not stop the beeping
The only way to stop the beeping is to move the gear stick very slightly out of P, then it stops
Its as if there is a sensor that has become very sensitive to the positioning of the gear stick in the P position

ok, the problem is that the linkage has worn, so when you have it in P it isnt actually in P at the gearbox. the linkage on manuals is not adjustable, it uses balljoints with rubber inside, when the rubber wear there is play in the linikage, if the auto is the same then you will need a new linkage.

Hi there,
Using the Brava to commute to work from this week.
A joy to drive, runs and handles well.

The beeping is definitely the 'reverse' beep
Moving the gear stick a little stops the beep and then I can start the car.

Reddy4bed noted:
'A point to bear in mind with automatics is that that there is always an interlock which will inhibit starter operation if cars is in gear, or brake is not pressed.'

The car will start quite happily if the brake is not pressed.
But if I want to put it into gear from P then I have to put my foot on the brake before it will let me so this.

Thanks again for all your help

Hi Jug,

Many apologies just picked up your reply about the gearbox linkage. The thread had moved onto page two and I had not noticed it.
It was only when I added my last reply that I realised there were two pages.

Is the linkage a big thing to change?
Do you think I should be ok using the car for a while as it is?
Cheers

i think you have to press the brake to select D, thats normal. maybe that is all you were doing wrong.

There is definitely still an issue with the gear selection.
When I insert the key to start the car the beeping noise sounds as if the gear stick in in reverse even though it is physically in P.
Without doing anything else I cannot start the car
If I then move the gearstick very slightly I can get the beeping to stop.
By very slightly I mean a few millimetres at most.
In this situation with the engine off, I can move the gearstick without pressing the brake
When the beeping has stopped and I turn the key the car starts.

In summary of the problem I have had since the start of this thread:

The problem that I had was that the car had been standing for two years and I had never used it before.

The key was stuck in the ignition and there was a beeping noise when I opened the door, the car would not start and the key code light would flash for a second or so when I tried to start it. Quite a few things for me to think about

The answer to the problem was the beeping noise.

As I mentioned above, occasionally when I opened the door the beeping would stop.
On one such occasion I managed to get the key out thinking that it was because of all the WD40 I had been spraying into it.
I then gave the starter a whack, put the key back in and it started....
For a short time after that the car would start quite happily, no beeping noise.

I took it for MOT after having new tires, shocks and alternator fixed.
When I came to pick the car up it would not start and the beeping had returned.
This time I moved the gear stick and noticed that the beeping would stop and when it did the car started, I then found that if I turn the engine off and the beeping was audible I could not get the key out and I would have to move the gearstick a couple of millimetres to stop the beeping and then I could get the key out.

I have driven about 250 miles now without any further problems.
However, I am wondering if I have a linkage problem or a reverse selector sensor problem.

Either way the car runs quite happily as long as I stop it beeping!
(Except when I am actually driving in reverse that is)

Thanks again to everyone for your help