Please help. Car starts 50% of time

[galaga]

Guys, having a big problem and hoping for some answers or guidance on VZ SS Ute.
Car is only starting sometimes. But once started is fine for rest of day. Here is what happens.
Use remote key to unlock door.
Put key in ignition to start.
Dash lights up for split second then whole car shutsdown.
I was playing around under bonnet then heard cd changer start flicking cd's.
Noticed dash lights came back on then started car.
This has happened several times in last few days.

[Hi-Torque]

sounds like the battery terminal is loose or a earth off the engine is not on right!

[BrAdAsS]

I was gonna say solenoid on the starter motor locking up... when you turn the key.... Do you get the classic battery clicking? or do the dash lights go dim and nothing appears to happen until you back the key off?

heres an easy test... give the starter motor a good hit with something like a breaker bar next time it does it and see if it will start.

edit: it wouldn't hurt to check the terminals are tight on the starter motor first.

Post back the result..

[keith reed]

Battery terminals might need cleaning.

[galaga]

Bit of an updatebattery terminals all tight and clean. One month old battery showing full charge.
When I turn the key, I see dash lights for split second then absolutely nothing. All lights gone, no clicking no nothing. Remote key does not lock or unlock car, nothing at all turns over. Whole car is dead. I know that I can start it when cd player starts clicking. I am not sure what is triggering this as I am playing with relays etc

[bigafoot]

does the security light on the dash flash anything when you do start it after this happens ?

is it a standard cd player and changer ? If not how long has this been installed for did it happen before ?

have you had the error code read to see if there are any ?

have you changed you key head lately ? are the screw all tight in the key head ?

I think that there are many things that it could be but it is a little hard to diagnose over the net, unless someone has had the same thing happen to them in the past.

[EQUIPE-T]

sounds like an earthing problem

[galaga]

Ok I just took it to holden to see if any codes and there are none coming up. I have checked and tightened the battery terminals and they semed fine. I will replace 2 relays that I was playing with when it first happened and see if that helps. Hope that solves my problem otherwise start digging again.

[Darren]

check all your main electrical connectors going from the engine bay to the cabin. Does the interior light work when you have these starting problems ? By the sound of it you are losing all power to the cabin - if it's not the battery terminals, then it has to be some sort of main power connector problem

[Bella]

this probably won't be right, but is it anything simple like those little fuses under the steering wheel?

i had problems with nearly all the electrics in my car in the end. Had to replace a few of the fuses and some other switch under the bonnet. This fixed the stereo, stereo lights, lights at the front of the car and interior. One of the fuses that dropped out that affected the light on the stereo only used to drain so much power from the battery though that the car wouldnt start after 2-3 days tops. If before the end of 2-3 days it would be slow to start, then ok for the rest of day.

Since all of this was replaced, I had no problems.

just a thought... hope you find out what it is!

[galaga]

Hey guys. I have replaced 3 relays and also retightened battery terminals. So far has not happened again. Thanks for all your ideas, even though I may not know what exactly was/is causing the problem. Hopefully it wont happen again. Electrics can be something so simple or something extremely hard to find.

[EQUIPE-T]

Hey guys. I have replaced 3 relays and also retightened battery terminals. So far has not happened again. Thanks for all your ideas, even though I may not know what exactly was/is causing the problem. Hopefully it wont happen again. Electrics can be something so simple or something extremely hard to find.

agree'd lol iv got a flat spot when cold ( then doesnt come back again all day until it sits over night :rolleyes: ) have replaced everything haha AFM, CAS, fuel pump ( which is strangley whineing away at 1/4 of a tank :confused: ) leads, plugs and still have the flat spot lol

if you go into holden they should be able to hook up the tech tool to read for error codes logged into the computer and you should be able to see what was wrong ( mine recently had to go in to be cleared as it was full :rolleyes: )