Helpppp!! Car wont start!!

AndrewJB

Friend to SEAT UK & Cupra Racing
Aug 16, 2007
11,211
484
Maranello
Get somebody to pick it up, park it in the gateway of the SEAT dealer.. they will soon look at it.
 

Seriously?

Active Member
Apr 20, 2018
1,244
837
Dodgy clutch inhibit switch? TBH, it could be one or more of many things. If you can get the RAC out to look at it, that would be the next logical thing to do if you can't get SEAT to look at it in a reasonable time frame.
 
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jcbmally

Started with nowt and still have most of it left.
Staff member
Moderator
Dec 26, 2013
1,272
549
Cybertron
A good electrician should be able to "bell" the cables to the ignition. I know of incidents that a broken wire in the ignition switch has caused the same issue, the ignition wire will start the car but people forget the modern electronics (ECU) will need to see if it is sending the signals correctly and it is "terminated" ie connected and working.
Sorry to hear your have a torrid time identifying this but if you have looked at fuses, changed battery, coded battery/keys, the starter turns over through a third party (hot wire) but wont fire, then it can only be ignition wire or ignition module. Like I said the ECU has to see everything is ok or it wont attempt to start.
Hope you get sorted soon.
 

Seriously?

Active Member
Apr 20, 2018
1,244
837
So when you start it with the key does the "put foot on clutch" message go off the dash?
I'd forgotten about the dash message when I posted earlier. The clutch switch thing occured to me as I had a similar problem in my old E91 BMW. It actually turned out that the switch was OK, but the footwell mat had gone between the switch plunger and the stop on the floor 🙄
 
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SuperV8

Active Member
May 30, 2019
1,337
590
If it worked fine before Christmas, and then wouldn't start after two months sitting, my guess is either:
The relay for the start solenoid or fuses - there two, one in the engine bay, one under your dash.


The start solenoid its self (this is a big relay on the side of the starter motor)
 

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Feb 9, 2021
43
15
Manchester
Just an update, rac came this morning, said battery was fine, mechanicly its fine no issues, said that the anti theft device was activated at so many miles, not sure why its done it, he's tried to remove it with no look so had it sent to a specialist garage, then seem pretty confident they can sort it and said it was immobiliser problems
 
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Feb 9, 2021
43
15
Manchester
Sorry yes and had all the relays checked just 2 weeks ago was told they was fine, although that electricIan wasn't very trusting, it doesn't seem to throw up any faults, just minor ones like air bags in driver side, low tyre pressure ect, and now one of my switches on the windows isn't working
 
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Feb 9, 2021
43
15
Manchester
So the clutch pedal switch is not seeing the signal that the pedal is down so the car will not turn the starter. If the key is faulty there will be a symbol on the dash 100% and it WILL crank just not start.
The key as in the actual car keys? No the signal doesn't go of, its not even cranking there is literally no sound? A mechanic tried to fire it it from the starter motor but only then it cracked but didn't start?
 

MATT RILEY

Oil burner
May 9, 2004
402
74
The key as in the actual car keys? No the signal doesn't go of, its not even cranking there is literally no sound? A mechanic tried to fire it it from the starter motor but only then it cracked but didn't start?
Yes this is correct, if the clutch switch doesn't work it will not make any noise. It's a safety feature so you can't start the car and have it lurch forward and hit something. Get your garage to bypass the switch on the clutch pedal and I bet it will work.
Feel sorry for you being messed about by so called mechanics. Hope you get this sorted.
 
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Feb 9, 2021
43
15
Manchester
Yes this is correct, if the clutch switch doesn't work it will not make any noise. It's a safety feature so you can't start the car and have it lurch forward and hit something. Get your garage to bypass the switch on the clutch pedal and I bet it will work.
Feel sorry for you being messed about by so called mechanics. Hope you get this sorted.
Thank you I will make sure I mention it to them tomorrow when I call, honestly its been horrendous, 1 month and nearly £700 in labour, call outs, and crappy diagnostic and its still won't start, hopefully this garage ring with better luck, or I'm off to buy to new cupra