Well, the most reliable car I've owned has now broken down on me! Not sure I'll be at Coventry if I can't get this sorted.

 

Symptoms:

 

Engine won't crank - won't even try.

All the dash lights come one.

Fuel pump primes.

Relays click.

 

Nothing! I am wondering whether my immobiliser has shat its pants. It would normally disable the starter and the fuel pump. Fuel pump pump is clearly audible.

 

I have no idea on the wiring of the immobiliser or indeed where it's actually fitted as it was fitted 12 years ago.

 

Answers on a postcard please.

Lets start with a simple one. Is the battery fully charged?

OK so:

 

Battery fully charged

Terminals clean and tight

No blown fuses

No known previous faults with ignition or starter

Get a meter across the batter and test the voltage. Clean the terminals as well. You might have enough to turn the dash lights but not enough to turn over, it will just click. If you keep trying it will go disco mode on you.

All checked and nothing wrong with that. Battery and terminals are fine. Relays and pump react normally as it would before starting.

Check the starter , and the wires to it, had the block connector break on mine, exactly the same symptoms

 

Again thought it was my immobiliser, but turned out just broken connection

was working on mine in the garage last night and mine did exactly the same, and it was my imobilizer thought i'd switched it of, turns out i had'nt or the fob was'nt working right got my other fob and switched it on and off again and it fired up

Check the starter , and the wires to it, had the block connector break on mine, exactly the same symptoms

 

Again thought it was my immobiliser, but turned out just broken connection

 

Last time I was under there all the wiring and the connector looked fine. I'm at my folk's at the moment so no access to get it up in the air, but will check that later.

 

What did you do to fix the block connector?

Tbh i cut the blocks off, and used a bullet connector, (and lot of heat shrink wrap,

 

Can you hear the starter solenoid engaging? I couldn't.

Starter motor could have died, how about bump start if manual or give it a rock in gear.

Do you get a click from the starter solenoid or nothing, worth checking the starter relay in behind the plastic arch cover

Tbh i cut the blocks off, and used a bullet connector, (and lot of heat shrink wrap,

 

Can you hear the starter solenoid engaging? I couldn't.

 

No, it's as if the starter has zero feed. I am convinced it's the immobiliser though. It acts as if the immobiliser is been disengaged but has failed leaving the power to the starter relay off.

 

What was wrong with your wiring?

Do you get a click from the starter solenoid or nothing, worth checking the starter relay in behind the plastic arch cover

 

No, absolutely nothing. OK, will try that! Passenger side isn't it?

There's a black one wire block, think it's an earth, it had gone green inside and rotted away,

 

Turned the key, lights came on, fuel pump started, starter nothing...

Drivers side http://twinturbo.net/nissan/300zx/tech/starterrelay/starterrelay.html

Edited July 14, 20169 yr by groover

No, absolutely nothing. OK, will try that! Passenger side isn't it?

 

Starter relay in drivers side, blue box.

Sorry to hear that Si...:sad:

 

Fingers crossed, you can get it working again for Coventry:clover:

It's just started....all by itself! How odd...Wonder if it was the relay - gotten hot as the car has been out in the sun, cooled down and is now working. I can take it back home and jack it up!

Welcome to our world :lol::lol: bloody gremlins :biggrin:

Apparently the blocks grey, the one in the picture.

 

Could still be at fault,

Best of luck Si, I've my fingers crossed for you buddy:thumbup1:

 

Oops, just seen all the updates as I posted:biggrin:

It's just started....all by itself! How odd...Wonder if it was the relay - gotten hot as the car has been out in the sun, cooled down and is now working. I can take it back home and jack it up!

 

Hopping to see this Z at Coventry Si (and you) so get it checked out :thumbup:

Have you been working on the car before this event? Under the drivers side dash for example.

This is a turn out for the books...!!

 

Glad you've got it (at least temporarily) sorted and hope you can find the underlying cause quickly, mate :thumbup1:

So we are saying hot start problem?

Welcome to our world :lol::lol: bloody gremlins :biggrin:

 

Haha! I'm convinced it's now the relay. The drivers side had been parked in the sun for a few hours (car lives in the garage) and relays do not like getting hot when they're on their way out. I'll get another one. It's now back home in the garage, I've gotten the onset of a migraine, so laying low until tomorrow. I started it up again once I'd gotten home and it was fine, although I noticed a momentary pause (almost not noticeable) before the starter engaged which is why I think it's the relay that's gone south.

 

Have you been working on the car before this event? Under the drivers side dash for example.

 

Other than fitting the rear coilovers last weekend, no and as for the interior, not for a good 6 months, no.