All Gone Horribly Wrong!!!

[TANKDOCTOR]

Well this one has got me
The wifes 2001 cupra wouldnt start yesterday,it cranked over but wouldnt fire.eventually the battery went flat.I went to jump start it not a problem ,drove it for about an hour ,turned it off and restarted.Got back in an hour later nothing,all the dash lights were out but the engine would turn over!
try it again the dash lights come on,engine turns over but wont fire up nothing obvious has come adrift.Just tried again no dash lights but cranks over Any Ideas???

 

[JimyFloyd]

sounds like either a duff battery or alternator to me.

James

 

[Matt752]

agreed

 

[gavthelad]

If the battery is knackered then it wont turn over? Unless it really was down on power when you turned the key initially but just doesnt have the power to produce a spark to ignite the fuel?

If jump starting it works every time then it does suggest the battery/alternator is having problems......can you charge the battery up and see what sort of charge its holding/voltage its producing?

 

[Brummy]

I had a similar problem on my Mk2 Cupra.. one battery swap later.. 'et viola'... problem gone!!

 

[TANKDOCTOR]

Battery is spot on(12.43V)Like i said before.turn ignition switch on no dash lights,in the same movement go to start and she turns over(still no dash lights!)let the key come back and hey presto dash lights.i'm beginning to suspect the ignition switch.Alternator ok but doesn't affect starting(unless it was shorting to earth which would drag the battery down but its not)Ah well off to the stealers for some prices cheers guys.

 

[ibizacupra]

checked the instrument cluster fuse? 2nd from the left at the top.

 

[TANKDOCTOR]

All sorted ignition switch base knacked,bitch of a job to get at!!!But at least i cured my steering column knock.turns out the joining tube at the bottom of the column wasn't sat far enough up the u/j ??
cheers for the input guys.

 

[gavthelad]

i still find it strange that the fuel wasnt igniting when you turned the engine over but if you jump started it, it would? Unless ive missed something?

 

[TANKDOCTOR]

i still find it strange that the fuel wasnt igniting when you turned the engine over but if you jump started it, it would? Unless ive missed something?

It must have been a fluke that the contacts in the base of the switch just happened to work as i jumped it off,(just 'cos the starter turns doesn't mean there is power to the ECU which controls fuel and spark).All sorted now.