Will not start

[sheriff464]

Went to start the Elan this afternoon:turned ignition,listened for the fuel pump to prime as usual,all OK,turned key further;rapid clicking sound from the engine compartment(near-side of engine bay I think?) Any clues as to what this is please? Relay or other problem!

[muley]

Sounds like a flat battery to me.

The clicking is probably the starter Bendix trying to engage.

Charge the battery and try again.

Jim

[Megwenda]

sounds like a flat battery

[Tuga2112]

:agree: sounds like a flat battery

same suspicion, i had the clicking noise you described when my battery was flat

[sheriff464]

Thanks guys! Will put the Ctek trickle charger on the battery tomorrow.

[roy666]

Hi - this trail is a bit old but thought I would tag my problem on the end of it. I found an old Gemini siren in the battery compartment bolted at the end of the bay, didn't know it was there. I had a Toad Ai606 installed about 3 years ago, which worked really well until it died about a year ago. I've never got around to sorting it out.. and the toad guy said he had taken out all the old alarm system; I could see that he had, but missed the siren I suppose. Anyway, Iv'e taken it out and cut the wiring loom that went to it. I tested the loom before hand and it regestered as no power going through. But now the car won't start.. the fuel pump does not come on/engage. I checked the intertia switch, but can't tell if that has done anything.. and checked the fuel pump fuse.. all ok. WTF did I do? M

[Steve A]

viewtopic.php?f=38&t=18626&p=242942#p242942

This may be related to your fault, I remember doing something to my alarm and it blew a fuse.

[roy666]

Hi Steve - yeah, where do you think the fuse might be for the alarm?? M

[Saltire]

I would be 99.99% certain it’s nothing to do with a fuse. I’ve recently fitted a Toad Ai606 to replace the OEM Aquila.

The Gemini Aquila alarm is OEM on an S2. The wiring harness to the siren contains two immobiliser cables as well as the siren wires. If you have cut the harness, you’ve isolated these immobiliser cables, the fuel pump won’t run, and the car won’t start.

Question 1: can you hear the fuel pump behind the seats for a few seconds when you turn the ignition on? If you can’t, I’m right. As we’re talking alarms here, I’ll email you some explanation and diagrams of what controls what, and how to reconnect, rather than posting in an open forum.

Finally, the fuses which have alarm functions are A3, A8, A9 and C3. But as I say, I’m almost sure it will be the fuel pump immobiliser.

Hope this helps.

[Steve A]

This was years ago but I remember that the siren was missing even though the alarm was all working fine , the wiring for the siren was still there,
I think what I must have done was short the siren wire which blew my alarm fuse which was buried behind the radio, I remember it killed everything.

[Saltire]

Hi Steve

That may well be right for your car, but, IIRC from Castle Combe, you have an SE. Which has a completely different alarm setup and location. From what he says, I think roy666 has an S2, where the alarm and wiring and locations are all different

[roy666]

Johnathan.. tahnsk.. i can't hear the fule pump at all.. no priming hwatsoever.. so it sems it is the imobilser. The strange thing is that the new Toad was not using these wires for the alarm.. so i don't understand why thay are still active then. but please sned over some diagrams. cheers M

[Saltire]

Diagrams sent by email last night.

Without going into too much detail on the open forum, the Gemini Aquila has three immobiliser circuits (as you’ll see); the Toad only has two. So when you fit the Toad, you can either leave one immobiliser set connected to the siren, and leave the siren in place, which is what I suspect your fitter has done, or you can remove the siren entirely. In that case, you must either permanently bridge the two wires as on my diagram, or connect them to a switch, so you can still isolate the fuel pump circuit, which is what I’ve done.

Bridging the wires is straightforward - as long as you haven’t cut the siren harness too short

[roy666]

J - thanks for all the assist on this one.. you certainly know your wires! And the good news is that..it did in fact start with the fix that you suggested, it must have been finger trouble on my part.. so now the pump is whiring away and the 'alarm' man comes tomorrow to sort the rest out. Cheers again.

M

[Saltire]

Glad you got it sorted out. Worth showing the diagrams I sent to the alarm chap, so he can make a permanent fix in the knowledge of what went before. Good luck!