Cranks but wont start
 

Hi Folks

My 1999 FL S8 has always been a great starter.

I've been away for six weeks, car's not moved.

Came back, tried to start it, no joy. Battery too flat too crank properly.

Charged batt for an hour, cranked much better but still no joy.

(Believe wife tried to use the car when I was away but it wouldn't start, which is odd in itself but I put it down to wife 'doing something wrong', suspect she flattened the batt trying though, but why wouldn't it start? flooding maybe??).

Anyway, charging continues but although it cranks, there's not a sniff of it firing.

Was running perfectly when parked.

I have no clue even where to start with this.:Confused:

Check the basics, battery, fuel, Ignition

Are you able to scan the car at all

Hi Dezzy

Can't scan anything. No equipment.

There's fuel in it.

Its cranking better now, but no bangs.

So, I guess there's either no fuel or no sparks in there.

Its been on charge for about 3 hours now.

It seems to have lost that very rapid cranking that it did before, albeit it never cranked for more than a few seconds before firing.

After that last attempt, there was a fair smell of fuel. So I think fuel is reaching it.

Like I say, charged for 3 hours, only cranked for about 15-20 secs before batt flat and unable to crank engine.

Beginning to look like a fcuked battery.

I'll try a jump start.

Yeah you should get more cranking time than that, but you may need to charge the battery longer

Del/ Dezzy

Its deffo either a knacked battery, or just standing there too long.

I've got it running sweetly now.

Had to jump start it, and it took a fair bit of cranking with the odd bang before it could be coaxed into life.

It started off the key after a bit of a run and I'm sure it will be fine after the batt gets fully charged overnight.

Am I asking too much, do you think, leaving it six weeks then expecting it to start right up?

Answering my own question, I think not!
I have an old Sunbeam Tiger in the garage, and it fires right up even if leftfor months, ie all winter.

The S8s battery must be past it.

My D2 does not like being left for any length of time. After 3 weeks it does seem to take a lot of cranking before it starts.

Think it's the fuel lines, over time the fuel seems to drain back to the tank, meaning the pump has to prime the whole system from scratch.

I've found with both my old S8 (PF, cable throttle) and new (FL, fly-by-wire) that after a "long rest" the old "floor the throttle, keep cranking" trick is sometimes required before it chugs into life then settles down after a few more seconds.
Not sure why, maybe condensation or fuel flooding/starvation? :Confused: And obviously a weak battery doesn't help, I try to recharge mine for 12 to 24 hours if it's low.

Glad she's back to life, I changed the battery in mine as it was on its way out.

With out the engine running on mine, lights on, stereo on, fan blowing etc the battery went from 100% to 10% in 20 mins.

Hi :D

Not been around for a couple of days.

Glad you got it sorted mate. Worth noting that a few others have had problems starting with battery not fully charged. It seems to have enough juice to run the starter but not fire the engine.