Technical First problem with Sedici!! Grrr

[Christian]

Took it though the auto car wash again on Saturday 29th - turned engine off at start then the thing wouldn't fire back up at the end. You should have seen me frantically trying to move the thing out of the gutter with a BMW approaching on the rollers from the rear!! Got it moved in the end and turned it over for about 2 minutes before it spluttered into action. Stalled about 20 times, before it got going again properly - waited 10 mins with engine idling then went home - Had no idea at the time but suspected that water had got in somewhere it shouldn't have!

Thought nothing more of it as I used it twice again to go to the shops and stuff without issue. It then got parked nose first on our (extremely) sloping drive, blocking in the Transalp and the Camper. That was Saturday night.

We have just had 2 days solid of THICK fog, everything in sight around here is soaked. The Tipo wouldn't start up this morning - has the fog got in to the electrics somewhere? Only this time it just turns over repeatedly and simply will not start - not even a burp. Ran the battery out too after 5 minutes - and had to ring in sick cos I have no way of getting to work now cos my other two vehicles are blocked in and there's no buses! Just tried again after charging the battery for last 7 hours - no result - turned over for about 2 mins solid before sucking the battery dry. I think it's safe to say it need attention.

Hazel is getting off work early today and we are off to buy a tow rope in the hope we can at least tow it off our very steep drive! Thats the biggest obstacle - towing to the garage aint a problem, and we don't have homestart either - just hope we can find a towrope strong enough cos pulling 1 tonne of car up that slope is going to be a strain in any gravity! Anyone else had a problem like this?

 

[bandido41]

try spraying a water repellent spray (e.g WD40) into the plug leads at both ends and any other electrical plug you can find and then try start it see if it makes a difference.

 

[Christian]

Just took your advice mate - all the leads looked okay apart from the lead from the coil to the dizzi - basically it had disintegrated at one end - the short lead pulled very easily from the plug without me even trying and it's that bad that I can't find any trace of bare metal on it so it can't be put back together - i'll probably get a tow rope as well as new ht leads and that just in case later! WIll post update this evening. THX

 

[Hellcat]

to get yourself going Halfords usually have a selction of 'hot leads' HT leads. Not my preferred supplier but at least it would get you started.

 

[Christian]

Nah our two big Halfords didn't do them - mail order only, Motor World don't even keep HT leads, dizzi caps etc in stock - for any car. I am about to check eBay but there are a few motor factors I can contact tomoz - for the time being, I settled on a 20 quid tow rope which we just got the Tipo off the drive and into the street with - had to use next door neighbours Jeep too cos Barchetta doesn't seem to have towing eyes? At least I can use the VW for now!

 

[tipomike]

This might sound daft but I would check the obvious - spark at the plugs, have a look at the rotor arm and the inside of the dizzi cap, check the fuses, try starting it with the cold start solenoid bypassed-ie pull out the pipe that joins it to the main air intake, make sure if you have an imobaliser it is indeed off!, check for fuel supply - can you hear the pump buzzing? Good luck...these cars can be a bugger coz they are alive and have a mind of their own!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Hellcat]

Think he's found the problem mike... the short lead from the coil to the dizzi has fallen to bits. Want mine since it's not exactly busy right now...

 

[Christian]

Jesus - had the camera out and everything but too embarrased to actually photograph him being towed away by Green Flag to our garage

I replaced the leads, rotor, dizzi - although the coil lead was goosed, I needn't have bothered with the other stuff - it would still not start - recovery guy did some tests in front of me and reckons it's the fuel pump. Car is now at the garage and will be repaired when they get a chance - I suppose seeing as they will be doing the thermostat too it will be killing two birds with one stone. Only real downside is I now have an aircooled VW T25 to drive 10 miles to work every morning and it's a cold, steamy windowed tank lol - should only be for two weeks TOPS

 

[mt-tuning]

i had a simillar problem with my sedici.. i washed engine and later car wouldnt start.. problem was on connector on coil...
do u hear iddle air control valve ticking when u turn keys to on??/excuse my english.

 

[tipoboy]

i too had this problem on my 3 door, after car washes during heavy rain/thick fog it wouldnt start this was caused by the connecter at the bottom of the coil having its rubber insert missing. try wrapping all the connectors from the coil with insulating tape.

 

[Christian]

WAHEY - got him back after 3 weeks! It turned out the entire problem was caused by the fuel pump relay - luckily I have already replaced the leads and stuff though so should prevent me having problems with them in the future - just filled tank and STP'd him - he's running great - welcome back to me!

 

[jonboy739]

hi mate bet you was gutted not having your car for 3 weeks mine wouldn't start once, checked all leads made sure there was a spark, kicked it over with spark plugs out to check if petrol was getting through, everything seemed fine, anyway put some redex in where the spark plugs go left it half hour, kicked it over again without plugs in to throw all the sh*t out, put plugs back in pluged leads up turned it over and it started up first time, never had a problem since, i just redex it every couple of months. noticed you are a local lad to me, i have been to that meet down at cornmill tonight, could of done with another tipo down there, i was only one, everyone else had stillos