Rampmonkey Posted August 16, 2012 Author Share Posted August 16, 2012 Ok, following on... Hooked up the tin top via jump leads to make sure I wasn't being suckered by the optimate into thinking I had a perfectly good battery. FIA swx to ON. Ok. Hazards check. OK. No buzzing, even got lights. Ignition to position 2. Ok. Fuel pump driving. Ok. Press starter button. Click from starter motor, no turnover. Out of the corner of my eye I see a wisp of smoke rising from the battery/ coil area (sorry, can't be more specific as it was dissipating as I saw it) Now nothing. Totally dead again; no hazards, no buzzing, no turnover. Nil. I want a cup of tea ☹️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 I would check all main cable connections - the fat ones between battery, starter, earths to engine and chassis. Is battery liquid level ok in each cell ? Is battery connected the right way round 😳 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rampmonkey Posted August 16, 2012 Author Share Posted August 16, 2012 All connections are sound. No evidence of burnt or charred cable (surprisingly enough!). Do I need to worry about a fried starter motor or alternator at this stage? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rampmonkey Posted August 16, 2012 Author Share Posted August 16, 2012 Not wanting to tempt fate here but.... We may have a functioning car! Just done a random ferret around, wobbled a few connections etc and noticed a prompt change in the optimate readout.... Went through a VERY tentative and methodical start, checking what was what at each stage of the game. Succeeded in getting her going again! Did a full shut down and restart for absolute certainty, checked all the electrical services once up and running. Hey presto! SM25T - many thanks for the patient advice this morning, I'm sure it was something along the line that cured the ill! Jase Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 Hurrah Now you have to refit the immobiliser and 12V socket ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted August 16, 2012 Member Share Posted August 16, 2012 Sounds good. Was the solution to have a biscuit with that cup of tea? Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rampmonkey Posted August 16, 2012 Author Share Posted August 16, 2012 Gonna leave the immobiliser off I think! It was a royal pain anyway; did a better job of keeping me from starting the car! As for the 12v socket, there is clearly an issue there as the car won't start when it's attached to the battery... The quest continues! 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 Can't be that difficult. If you have a meter, check there is no continuity between the + and - connectors on the socket. Maybe a connector is bent or insulator damaged and touching where it shouldn't ? Is removing the immobiliser an insurance issue ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbird Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 sorry didn't carry on with input, although Ian did a fine job, had to nip out presumably 12v socket is empty when causing problem, have you checked resistance across the connecting wires when not fitted, I am sure what you say is correct but it makes no sense to me that the socket can draw enough current to stop the car starting without blowing the in line fuse, 10amp fuse as opposed to the starter taking 200amps or so, How are you , physicaly, connecting the socket to the battery , have you connected the socket to battery without it being fitted in car , the socket that is not the battery 😬 Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rampmonkey Posted August 17, 2012 Author Share Posted August 17, 2012 Got it sorted!!! 😬 Wired the socket as per the instructions that came with it, ie direct to the battery pos to pos, neg to neg. Hey presto! (as I did in the first instance, but WITH the immobilizer fitted!) I took the thing apart and gross checked for loose connections etc, but all seemed good! Did my usual tentative and methodical application of power and devices with no issues. To be ABSOLUTELY certain, I went for a 250 mile blat with the sat nav plugged in. 😬 Just to be sure! To highlight my original statement, this is why I hate electrics!!! Cheers for your help fellas! Wave if you see L7 SEV! Jase Edited by - Rampmonkey on 17 Aug 2012 17:13:42 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted August 17, 2012 Member Share Posted August 17, 2012 :-) Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Hurrah - you are now a master car electrician 😬 Enjoy the sunshine While it lasts ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbird Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 who ever said elektrickery made any sense, 7s are simple, its was much more fun de bugging a Nimrod, F,ing miles of cable 😬 *thumbup*for fixing it , one day you may well discover what caused it 😬 Tim Edited by - tbird on 17 Aug 2012 18:41:57 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnty Lyons Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Ramp monkey just one word of warning the way you have it wired could if you have a lapse of memory leave you with a flat battery In an ideal world and power skt should be ign controlled That is to say wired exactly the way you have it BUT with the Pos broken through a relay switched by Ign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbird Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 But if you do that Jonty you can't use it for your conditioner , If you are going to wire it through a switch I would say wire it after the FIA switch then you have the choice and it will still pass Scrutineering if needed Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rampmonkey Posted August 17, 2012 Author Share Posted August 17, 2012 Hi guys, Yeah, I was a tad worried about the flat battery thing. The optimate plugs in after each blat, purely because I have no idea when the car will be used next. I presume this will save me from flat battery territory? One day, maybe when I get the new (and decent) immobiliser fitted, I'll charge the nice man to wire in the socket post-FIA swx! Jase Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnty Lyons Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 This of course is very true but then in an ideal world you would have two different skts of different types One power in and One power out one pre ign one post in fact probably more one to power sat nav one for autocom and one for two way radio. and there's still your mobile. 😬 and if you do Gome events you'll have an ign controlled fuse board cos you'll have your potty, flexi light and nav computer. It gets to be endless.I always meant to lift the scuttle on SAZ and redo the whole lot, never got round to it and never will now. Edited by - Johnty Lyons on 17 Aug 2012 21:35:42 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Golf Juliet Tango Posted August 18, 2012 Area Representative Share Posted August 18, 2012 In the rebuild of the 21, I did put pre-ignition and post-ignition sockets into the car. It allows the Optimate to go in (if the garage has power) and for the heated seat pad not to drain the battery power if one gets left in. But three sockets are surely enough! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbird Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 But three sockets are surely enough! Nope what about http://www.conrad-uk.com/medias/global/ce/8000_8999/8500/8500/8508/850888_RB_00_FB.EPS_1000.jpg and maybe an inverter so you can have a watch winder as well Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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