won't start after radiator job

[brettwr]

Well folks this is my first post and I need help.
I was losing coolant for months but managed alright buy topping up every now and then. I thought this was part of the deal. Thank fully the warning light was working well. It turns out that I had a leaking radiator in my 86 series 2 non-turbo so I took it out using the Haynes manual as you do :D and got a "new" one from salvage. I put the radiator in and now the car won't start. It sounds as if the starter is struggling.
Does this ring any bells out there? What could I have done wrong?:confused:
It is still a great car.

[Glenn Butcher]

Hmmm,

Sounds like the battery may be dead? have you check it or run jumper cables?

The other thing it could be (which I hope not) is "Carbon Lock" - try the battery first.

[clive]

Originally posted by brettwr
Well folks this is my first post and I need help.
I was losing coolant for months but managed alright buy topping up every now and then. I thought this was part of the deal. Thank fully the warning light was working well. It turns out that I had a leaking radiator in my 86 series 2 non-turbo so I took it out using the Haynes manual as you do :D and got a "new" one from salvage. I put the radiator in and now the car won't start. It sounds as if the starter is struggling.
Does this ring any bells out there? What could I have done wrong?:confused:
It is still a great car.

Hi Brett,
Fingers crossed , it only sounds like a flat battery Rotary's do like a real good battery let us know how you get on .
All The Best Clive.

[Paul-Tll]

DO you here the fuel pump motor ?
Do you have spark ?

check all the main fuse(s) front l/hand engine bay espec. btn)
go inside check fuse(s) espec. 15A (engine)
go to the coil at front (leading) and see if you have 12v with
ign on.. this will prove quite abit of the elec. bits.
you should find what ever voltage you have on the bat. there.
go on the Black wire with yellow trace and bat. neg.

If your fuel pump dont run take alook by the r/hand susp.
turet youll find a yellow 2 pin con. there put a strap on it
and youll bypass lots of c'cts and make the pump run
(normally used for priming the fuel system after any related
work).

Get that Bat. checked out and Earth cons first!!!!!!!!!!!

good luck let us know how it go's shame you dont live
down here.

[brettwr]

The battery was run down but I got it charged up alright and I still had no joy.
I had some guy from the RAC out and he seemed even more baffled than me.
I gave WGT a call and they thought I might have flooded it and recommened a trick where I take the main 30amp EGI fuse out and while turning the ignition put it back in.
Only trouble is that now I don't even get the warning lights coming on when I turn the ignition even after charging up the battery. The lights in the cabin light though.
I have an immobilizer fitted so I thought I had somehow managed to short out the circuit for that. I had a look at the fuses in the box in the cabin but they all look OK..except that I've managed to drop one into the door!! It was probably an important one so I took out the one for the rear wiper to replace it.
Which circuit does the immobilizer ususally run off anyway?
Stuck again...I think I'm going to replace the fuses in the cabin anyway..
I guess I'll be on the train for a bit longer.:rolleyes:

[Glenn Butcher]

Brett,

Is the engine turning over at all? can you turn it over by hand via the front pulley's (attached to the alternator?). Make sure it isn't in gear when doing this.

So no lights come on the dash when you turn the ignition on?

Check the following:

1. That all the fuses are ok of course
2. You battery terminal is secure (maybe take it off and on).

If the above fails, put another battery on - you will be surprised how many people have problems which are then corrected by a battery replacement.

If you can turn the engine over by hand (make sure that the main pulley on the front of the engine is turning and that the belts aren't slipping). Can you try and clutch start it? (manual?)

Finally it could be flooded, but the main thing will be to get the engine to turn over quickly of course by the starter motor.

Let us know.