Strange S2 no start

[Monkeythree]

Car wouldn't start this morning. Obviously didn't want to go to the MOT station! I was surprised because it always starts from cold even when left for weeks at a time. Anyway I traced it to no spark. Swapped the DME relay, still no spark. Put a 3 wire jumper into the relay socket and it fired up right away.

So at face value it seems that the DME relay that worked fine a month ago has randomly died and the spare one in my glovebox has died simultaneously? Seems unlikely to me so I'm left wondering if there is something else at work here? Ive opened up both the supposededly dead relays and they appear perfect (As I expected because they have both worked perfectly up until now). I can of course just go and buy two more relays but there is no guarantee that will solve the problem and I would rather know beforehand if there is something else that needs attention. Any ideas?

Also, can I run with the 3 wire jumper in the interim I.e. to the MOT station and back?

 

[edh]

May be a fuse box wiring issue? Have you tried the DME again?

 

[Monkeythree]

Yes, after the successful start with the 3 way jumper I then tried again with both relays and neither would perform. I suppose it's probably worth buying another one just to see what happens. If a new one doesn't work then the fuse box wiring does seem the logical next step. Thanks.

 

[robdimond]

Ignition switch perhaps? If the bypass works then either both relays are broken (unlikely) or the relay is not getting the signal to turn on. Could also be some old alarm/immobilizer wiring?

 

[Monkeythree]

Both good possibilities Rob. My ignition switch is a bit iffy and I was close to chopping the immobiliser out this morning before I got it to work with the relay jumper. There is a plug connector on the back of the ignition switch so if I can figure out which wire does what then I suppose I should be able to make up some more jumpers to go in the plug connector and Hotwire it. Thanks!

 

[zcacogp]

Tom,

I'd be with Rob; failure of both relays is unlikely so it must be that they aren't being told to turn on.

Can you get a voltage at the relevant pin in the fuse box?

You could try bench-testing the relays if you were bothered but running a 'hotwire' would give you a clear way forward. All the best with the MOT.


Oli.

 

[Monkeythree]

Hi Oli, I've taken the view that the ignition switch is the most likely culprit so I've got one on order from Cambridge OPC (£120!! Grrrr). The switch was a bit dodgy anyway as it wasn't spring returning to the run position cleanly and I was having to remember to tweak it back a touch after every start otherwise windows and lights and things wouldn't work. I'm hoping that the switch will cure all ills and save me several hours of diagnosis time.

 

[zcacogp]

£120 sounds painful for an ignition switch! No chance of it being a common part with a VW of the same era? The fact that it's not springing back suggests that it may be failing to do other things as well, such as provide the live feed for the DME.

Hope it solves your troubles.


Oli.

 

[Monkeythree]

I'm hoping that it is fubar'd as that will (sort of) justify the extortionate cost of the replacement part. If I solve two problems in one go do I get a special medal or something?

 

[zcacogp]

No but you do get an S2 which is working correctly, which surely beats any medal ever made? []

 

[Monkeythree]

No but you do get an S2 which is working correctly, which surely beats any Turbo ever made? []

Fixed that for you. ;-)

 

[Monkeythree]

Fixed it with a new ignition switch. Not easy to change in situ as there is little space but managed it lying on my back with my head jammed up in the footwell and a torch in my mouth.

 

[robdimond]

Great news! What's my prize? []

 

[Monkeythree]

There's a chocolate biscuit with your name on it here Rob! It would have been a chocolate biscuit and a custard cream but since you hedged your bets with the immobiliser the custard cream belongs to the house. Dems da rules! ;-)

 

[zcacogp]

Well done Tom - that means you've fixed two things in the last week! []

Can I have Rob's custard cream? I feel it's justified as I'm sure my input was helpful too ....

 

[Monkeythree]

I'm on a roll baby!
Flew through it's MOT this morning and the nice MoT man even spotted that I'd lost a nut from one of the down pipe bolts. The bolt was sitting there quite happy but loose and has now been identified as the source of the angry wasp noise that I was getting half way up the rev range when I was gunning it. So that's three things fixed! Now I just need to find someone to buy it.
And yes you can have the custard cream.

 

[zcacogp]

And yes you can have the custard cream.

Awww ... fanks buddy! And well done on the MOT too.

Still trying to sell the S2 eh? How's that rusty Turbo coming along?


Oli.