Blasted thing won't start!

[LukeyC]

Hi everyone,

Very odd thing has just happened - my car won't start.

I've just driven an hour down the motorway from Newport to my local doctors, parked up, nipped inside - starts first time, as always. Drive 10 mins to my mates house, come out after 10 mins and my car won't start.

It unlocks just fine, all lights and power seem ok. Foot on brake, hit start button. The needle sweep works like it's trying to fire, and all that happenes is one little "click" noise coming from under the car. No cranking, nothing.

I've tried to read fault codes and get the following I've not seen before:

CAN network gateway:
00384 - Optical Databus

Engine:
05456

I've had a bit of a Google, but does anyone have any idea what it could be?

PS the same thing happens if I put the key in the slot (ie not use the keyless start).

Thanks,

Luke

 

[Marky007]

Could be possibly blow fuse in boot happened to me with my 59 plate a4

Is yours a manual? It will bump start if that's the issue

You can bypass it with jump lead.

 

[LukeyC]

No mine's an Auto Marky.

I hadn't considered a blown fuse - I managed to push it to the village garage so hopefully it's one of the first things they'll check.

 

[Marky007]

No mine's an Auto Marky.

I hadn't considered a blown fuse - I managed to push it to the village garage so hopefully it's one of the first things they'll check.

Tell them to check blow fuse near battery it will start to you bypass it with a jump lead.

 

[LukeyC]

So, bit of an update - The garage tested the battery - dead.

They ordered in a new one, replaced it and the car starts fine. I drive the car home (about 3 minutes) and park up Friday night.

I've just gone to drive my car for the first time - and it's dead again!

Something must be drawing down some serious power as it's killed a brand new battery in just over 48 hours!

Does anyone have an idea what would have caused this? I've not added anything electrical to my car. I've had a road angel hardwired into it for the last year, but I've not suddenly added a USB charger or anything like that. There is no water in the battery compartment or anything that I can see might create a short. It's bizarre.

 

[BigJoeyC]

So, bit of an update - The garage tested the battery - dead.

They ordered in a new one, replaced it and the car starts fine. I drive the car home (about 3 minutes) and park up Friday night.

I've just gone to drive my car for the first time - and it's dead again!

Something must be drawing down some serious power as it's killed a brand new battery in just over 48 hours!

Does anyone have an idea what would have caused this? I've not added anything electrical to my car. I've had a road angel hardwired into it for the last year, but I've not suddenly added a USB charger or anything like that. There is no water in the battery compartment or anything that I can see might create a short. It's bizarre.

You havent got a ODB dongle permanently plugged into the obd port or anything else for that matter have you?

If not it could be starter motor ?

 

[LukeyC]

Good idea - I do have an odb Bluetooth dongle plugged in, but it's been there for the last 4-5 weeks.
I'm thinking that whilst that may have contributed to the slow decline of my original battery, I wouldn't have thought it would kill my new battery in 48 hours.

Could he wrong though - I'm no electronics expert! Either way, it's coming out, along with the road angel hardwire and usb cigerrete charger.

 

[BigJoeyC]

Good idea - I do have an odb Bluetooth dongle plugged in, but it's been there for the last 4-5 weeks.
I'm thinking that whilst that may have contributed to the slow decline of my original battery, I wouldn't have thought it would kill my new battery in 48 hours.

Could he wrong though - I'm no electronics expert! Either way, it's coming out, along with the road angel hardwire and usb cigerrete charger.

It will be that 100%. I plugged mine in the other night and it zapped the battery in a matter of minutes. I had to use jump leads to start it again

If you read up its dangerous to leave anything plugged into the obd port as it puts the car in diagnostic mode and can do alot of damage

Road angel and usb cig charger will be fine. Take the obd out and i bet it doesnt happen again

 

[LukeyC]

I hope you're right! It's removed now so let's see how it goes.

Wonder if I can get my old battery charged up and return this new (dead) unneeded one. That would be a result.

 

[BigJoeyC]

I hope you're right! It's removed now so let's see how it goes.

Wonder if I can get my old battery charged up and return this new (dead) unneeded one. That would be a result.

Worth a go! Will need jump started but once up and running it probs be ok

 

[LukeyC]

I had it on slow charge overnight, but that was with the odb dongle in - wouldn't start this morning (which means the dongle is draining faster than a slow charge). So I unplugged the dongle, plus the usb and road angel hardwire, left it onnfast charge for an hour whilst I dropped my daughter to nursery - still dead when I got back.

The local garage has given me a fully charged jumper pack - still won't get it started.

I've got every switch, light etc I can think turnedoff to off. No MMI, no fans and still it won't start.

Getting worried now!

 

[BigJoeyC]

I had it on slow charge overnight, but that was with the odb dongle in - wouldn't start this morning (which means the dongle is draining faster than a slow charge). So I unplugged the dongle, plus the usb and road angel hardwire, left it onnfast charge for an hour whilst I dropped my daughter to nursery - still dead when I got back.

The local garage has given me a fully charged jumper pack - still won't get it started.

I've got every switch, light etc I can think turnedoff to off. No MMI, no fans and still it won't start.

Getting worried now!

Could be the starter motor? Seems very odd like

 

[Marky007]

Is it not even turning over ?!

 

[BigJoeyC]

I had it on slow charge overnight, but that was with the odb dongle in - wouldn't start this morning (which means the dongle is draining faster than a slow charge). So I unplugged the dongle, plus the usb and road angel hardwire, left it onnfast charge for an hour whilst I dropped my daughter to nursery - still dead when I got back.

The local garage has given me a fully charged jumper pack - still won't get it started.

I've got every switch, light etc I can think turnedoff to off. No MMI, no fans and still it won't start.

Getting worried now!

Any updates mate? You manage to get it fixed?

 

[LukeyC]

Not yet fella, the garage towed it away late afternoon yesterday, but they are now thinking it's starter motor related.

So it's going up on the ramps today and they are going to take a look at it. Fingers crossed it's easily identified / fixable in the next couple of days.

Will keep you posted!

 

[Marky007]

Few have had this issue including me

 

[LukeyC]

Thanks for your help everyone. The electrical specialist is back today, and managed to find a very, very loose connection inside this box under the bonnet:

He showed me how it had been getting really hot and melted part of the plastic away, which must have been causing the battery drain issues. Also explains why I would get a sudden issue, then it work again, then break again.

New part ordered and being fitted tomorrow, which will hopefully solve the issue. I'll do a final update tomorrow as hopefully this thread will be useful for someone else with similar issues.

 

[rum4mo]

Funny how things are so ****** obvious after some one that knows their stuff gets to work on your car!!

 

[LukeyC]

Final update - it's been a few days and it starts first time, every time so without tempting fate, I think the problem has been fixed now.

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions, thread closed

 

[Marky007]

Final update - it's been a few days and it starts first time, every time so without tempting fate, I think the problem has been fixed now.

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions, thread closed

Glad its sorted

 

[AndrewW]

Good result! Glad you got there in the end