Tech help!
Q Why does my ’van not start properly all the time?
For some time now I’ve been having starting issues with my ’van. To try and cure the problem, I’ve had a new starter motor, crankshaft position sensor and battery. It has been into the garage and had the earth cable cleaned.
When I turn the key to start the engine, all I get is a slight hum. I do this maybe three or four times and then it will start.
The annoying thing is it is intermittent to the point that, when the garage had the ’van in, it started every time. I’m now beginning to think it could be something to do with the immobiliser.
I have just been to start it, and this time, it nearly started first time. But before it did start I had quite a load of ‘click, click, click’ before it started. Could any of you shed any light on what could be the problem? It is a 150bhp Fiat Ducato 2013.
Mike Deamer
A The noise that you were hearing was the buzzing from the fuel pump under the cab floor. This will run for up to 20 seconds after the ignition is switched off. Unless you have been in a crash, of course.
The rapid clicking is what happens when the ECU thinks there might be just enough electricity to start the vehicle and ‘gives start permission’ but, in reality, there was insufficient to engage the solenoid and turn the starter so it does that. When there is very little demand on the power supply, it can appear to the ECU and anyone with a multimeter that there is 12V available, but the power (amps) required to turn over an engine and maintain a good supply to all of the sensors and devices present is considerable. If the earth is corroded or otherwise compromised, the voltage will drop away enormously.
I have no doubt that this is an earth issue. You can prove this by using one half of a set of jump leads and connecting the engine lifting eye to the earth stud under the bonnet.
Try starting it again and I would be very surprised if everything was not normal.
The original earth connection is a braided copper affair and it is very much prone to corrosion, or oxidisation. This leads to a poor transmission of power and it can actually get quite hot.
There are a couple of other possible causes for the problem, but the earth cable is responsible for most starting issues and other random electrical faults, so get a new earth cable fitted as a first step!
You will need to get a new earth lead made up. It will need to be at least 18 inches long and you need
