Technical Starting problem, remote central locking & alarm prolem!....help!

Currently reading:
Technical Starting problem, remote central locking & alarm prolem!....help!

Creative Custard

New member
Joined
Jun 13, 2008
Messages
2
Points
1
We recently purchased the JTD 115 Elx (52 plate) a few months ago. About a month ago the car wouldn't open using the remote key, so my fiance opened the car by putting the key in the lock. This set the alarm off, at 10.30pm in the evening, we had to drive the car all the way home with the alarm keep going off for about half the journey. In order for us to be able to use the car without the alarm going off we have had to take the fuse out for the alarm. Consequently the remote locking doesn't work but, can be locked centrally. Also the wind-screen wipers don't work either, since they must run form the same fuse.

We have also had intermittent trouble with the starting. I wait for the glow-plug light to disappear once turning the key in ignition. Sometimes the car ticks over, sometimes not??? If I return to car about an hour later, it works.

My father has taken the car off our hands and was trying to get it sorted at his friends garage for us. They said that there was no problem with the central locking / alarm system after returning fuse. Hopefully, this issue has been resolved but it's still early days.

The garage has placed new glow plugs on and we thought all was well. My father was due to bring it back from Wales to Dorset today....he jumped in the car and it wouldn't start again.

We're going to France in a couple of weeks and are supposed to be taking our car with us. We don't want to break down with three babies 3 and under in it.....any ideas on what the starting problem could be?

Key fob, electrical, engine management system?

I just remembered another thing too, since we had the car a light on the dashboard, of a man sitting down has been on all the time? My father says that the garage said that it may be the engine management system / fuel pump and, this could set us back £1500, is this right? Could this be what is causing the trouble?
 
Sounds like you have several faults there.

The push button on the key to operate the locks is prone to failing -- the solder contacts that fix the push button to the circuit board break away, but if anyone's handy with a small soldering iron, can be easily repaired. (Of course, it could just be the battery in the key -- does the red light in the key fob flash when you push the button?) Do you have same problems using the second key?

Red 'man sitting down' light -- there are two. One is the 'you haven't put your seatbelt on' warning (man facing you with diagonal line across chest). If you have got the belt on and this is still on, fault is in the switch in the seatbelt buckle. Other is airbag unit fault warning -- man sitting facing to the left with red circle in front of him. Various posts elsewhere about faults in airbag system, especially dirty contacts or corroded connectors.

Wipers: front and rear wipers, and the washer pumps, are all on one fuse, number 10 in the fusebox, according to my Multipla's instruction book. The alarm system electronics are a different fuse (no 13) -- which also feeds the indicators, hazard lights and the clock. Remote lock sensor is fuse 12, which also feeds interior lights and the alarm siren. Which fuse did you take out?

Is garage a Fiat dealer? The dealer's computer should show up any failings in engine management systems, airbag sensors, etc

Pete
 
My father was able to start it perfectly this morning. I'm wondering whether there is a specific way we have to start the car, apart from waiting for the glow plug light to disappear? Perhaps i'm doing something wrong and the immobiliser kicks in and stops the car from starting?
 
Here's what your supposed to do.

Get in and turn key to first position (warning lights on). During summer, glow plug light will go out very quickly, but...

Wait until digital display shows everything's OK (ie it goes from 'checking' to showing the 'OK' or the mileage and clock -- or an error message, eg 'oil too low')

Turn key to start car and all should be well.

If you try and start it too quickly, before the computer's done its checks, its not happy.
 
Back
Top