Pointers/Help Required

[FazerScotty]

I don't usually need to do this but..........

I have a 2003 2.5L S-Type Automatic. This morning, jumped in the car and when the key was turned to the start position, the mileage indicator in the console went blank and absolutely nothing else happened.(Apart from me saying "W.T.F")

I was aware that the battery may not be at its best, so off to Eurocarparts to get a replacement (£73.00).

Gave the new battery a bit of a boost charge for a couple of hours or so and thought to myself, what can possibly go wrong.

New battery installed, battery reset guide in hand and I go for it - nothing, zilch, S.F.A, same as above.

Used the car yesterday, did about 70 miles with no problems whatsoever.

So, problem A - starting.

Problem B (may well be connected?) - I thought it may be a sticky starter, so I put the gearbox in reverse and could roll the car far more than I thought I should be able to. Same result in "D". Could it be the transmission Control Module causing me this grief?

[JOE-DOT-COM]

hi

make sure the "P" indicator in park position lights up, if it dont, it wont start, definately wont start in "D" drive

some times the cable from the J gate to the gearbox come loose and can cause this

check you have 12v at the fuse box in the engine bay and it may be worth checking all the fuses in the boot, footwell and engine bay

cheers

Joe

[FazerScotty]

13 hours ago, JOE-DOT-COM said:

hi

make sure the "P" indicator in park position lights up, if it dont, it wont start, definately wont start in "D" drive

some times the cable from the J gate to the gearbox come loose and can cause this

check you have 12v at the fuse box in the engine bay and it may be worth checking all the fuses in the boot, footwell and engine bay

cheers

Joe

Hi Joe,

Many, many thanks for your reply.

I have just gone to the car to check the gear position lights. All light up as normal.

However, something really strange has happened. I turned the key to the start position and the frigging thing started.

All the gears selected nicely, in fact everything works as it should - so I am starting New Years Eve with an already muddled mind.

Now, I don't mind faults going, but any ideas as to what may have caused this temporary blip. (In case it happens again!)

The only thing I can think of, was that on the approach to an airfield on Friday, I had to drive through a large puddle, which was trapped by a speed hump. Could water have gotten into a switch on the gearbox somehow and now it's dried out?

[JOE-DOT-COM]

hi

the gearbox is sealed and the j-gate is inside the car, so would not of thought it been wet or damp

I know the the cable can come lose between j-gate and gearbox, but what usually happens is the corresponding light does not light up on the j-gate

could be a few things really, other common things, like sticky j-gate interlock, your not suppose be able to move it from park without pressing the brake, if you can the interlock may be stuck out, disabling starting, but I think this can be over ridden by pressing the brake and then it should start

see how you go

cheers

Joe