Urgent help to avoid a burnt out Clio

[R9UKE]

Fresh news - my K reg Clio Auto just let me down in a spectacular fashion. Been fine all day then I started the usual Chinese deliveries at 5pm. First delivery all good, jumped in the car... Nothing

 

Turn the key, all lights on, fuel pump goes, then turn to start and not even a half hearted try. The starter just doesn't go. This happened to me with a Volvo auto before and 10 minutes of panicking later I realised the shifter was in D. This isn't the case here. Tried it in P and N. Same thing in all of them.

 

Friend rescued me and now I'm using the Volvo - bye bye profits for the evening!

 

It's on it's own in a Shameless style estate, I don't want to leave it there tonight, finish work at 9. What's the best plan of action guys? If it makes any odds, it's VERY wet here this evening. Spiffingly tipping it down!

[scaryoldcortina]

I'd try bridging the starter between the supply wire and the start terminal to see if that bursts it into life (make sure it's in P or you might run yourself over). If that fails, I'd tow it somewhere safer rather than mess on in the rain.

[Volksy]

Could be a dirty inhibitor switch, try moving it between P to 1 and back again a few times with the ignition held in the start position. Any sign of life as you shift between the starter gears P & N may show this up.

[talbot928]

Try cleaning all the connections at the starter motor, could be dirty / corroded. Common problem on older clio's

[ashmicro]

Jammed starter? Thump the starter with a stout lump of wood.

[R9UKE]

Great suggestions, cheers. Going to get a friend to help tow it back home for tonight. I know it's an auto but the gearbox is shite anyway, and it's less than 2 miles. Will update!

[25v6turbo]

Hi Luke

This sounds identical to what happened to my dads clio a few weeks ago.

L reg 1.4 RT went shopping came to start it,nothing,does it have a massive power drop and a loud click from the starter??

If so it MAY not be the starter,i put a new one on my dads,when to start it,CLICK,nothing still.

After a few hours messing around,i decided to try and turn the engine on the crank,it stopped dead,what had happened is the waterpump seized up,and locked the engine,stripping a few cambelt teeth and making a real mess of things,but it gave the symptons of a knackered starter,but a huge power drop.Is there no sound from the starter at all?

[R9UKE]

Dave that's not exactly great news!

 

Right. Update. Went down with the rope etc, ready to tow. Jumped in and the little bitch started like nothing had ever happened. Drove home fine. Went back out just now and same thing again! It's obviously going to be one of those beautiful French faults you can never find and hit at the worst times. The systems are: No click, fuel pump working away, it's as if the car thinks it's in D and so won't activate the starter - as suggested. At least it's outside the house now. Tomorrow will be fun.

 

Thanks chaps.

[nigel bickle]

Bypass the inhibitor switch. Should be able to do that from inside the car- thereby keeping out of inclemency.

 

Just remember to stick it in Park ,everytime!

[R9UKE]

Jammed starter? Thump the starter with a stout lump of wood.

 

Bang on. Lynda is alive again and now carries a broom in her boot!

[richardthestag]

Sometimes holding the ignition key in the start position for 5-10 seconds might get over the resistance issue of a doggy connection. Worked at least once on my auto Stag

 

This should be an emergency get me home situation as heat from resistance might be fucking something up somewhere in the loom etc etc, not recommended etc etc

 

My Range Rover starter was tooling me around Oct last year. It had been a sluggish starter for a week or so and then one sunday late afternoon it didn't even click nothing. Checked for voltage to the solenoid feed and that was ok, bridged the contacts on the back of the starter with a jump lead and everything got quite hot so I relayed it home. Starter was completely burnt out but an hour laying on my back and another unit was fitted and cushty.