Technical Car won't start - urgent help needed

[sumplug]

This is simply an earthing issue, or ignition circuit issue. Both can cause the symptoms.
These cars are simple. Not a lot to go wrong, electronically.
Wonder if he left it in gear, stood in front and touched the starter and engine started and car ran him over lol. Could be why, he hasn't written back!

 

[matts07punto]

Hi Charlie, I didn't have my email notification ticked so had not seen your reply earlier. Maybe K is the same. I ran through the twin jump lead check suggested but it didn't work for me. I gave up at this point and called the recovery. He spent approx 45min checking fuses and relays and was convinced there was a wire missing from the starter motor that I had just replaced. There wasn't. It seems unusual to have the signal wire and live feed on the same terminal. Anyway, car taken to garage where they found.........a broken earth lead. Car started (they tell me) but immediately broke the new starter??? Took the old starter round yesterday and it should have been 20min to swap. Bit worried as I still haven't heard. Will update with final result. Dave.

 

[Bernievarian]

Ahhhhhh, earthing, what a challenge !

One cheap headlight bulb, couple of meters wiring, some welding on the bulb and lugs on the other lead's end.
Hook one lead to the battery POSITIVE (firmly, use round eyed lug for that) and wander the other lead (round male lug) to where you want to verify earthing.

- lamp full bright: good earthing
- lamp dimmy: poor earthing
- lamp OFF: NO earthing (or positive)

Better method than multimeter since the bulb is REALY drawing curent !

Costs: nuts
Time: 10' soldering included

Regards, Bernie

ps: one can also use a home 12V / 50W halogen lamp

 

[matts07punto]

Gutted. Crappy Europarts starter has exploded into the housing. Major job trying to get the bits out.