Ive been having a problem over the last week or so where the car wont start.

Disarm the alarm, all the dash lights come on.  Key in the ignition and turn it, I can hear the fuel pump prime.  Turn the key "Click" No spinning, all dash lights go out.  Headlights will remain on and do not dim.

Last night it did this several times and wouldnt start.  Usually, it will decide it will spin and will start.  Spins over at the normal rate, and catches straight away.

The alarm is a Toad Ai606 with 2 circuit immobilisers.  Does this sound like an immobiliser problem, or an engine/electrical problem?

Just been out with the multimeter, and Im getting 12v on the battery, dropping to 11.5v.

Loud relay click from engine bay and what I think is a faint buzzing when the when trying to start.

its either your starter motor, the batter, or a bad connection somewhere


dash light swill go off because either the battery is low and when the starter motor tries to spin it sucks up all the battery can give - theres a bad connection (probably earth) somewhere so theres not enough power getting through... or the starter motor is shorting out internally (seen it a thousand times) and is shorting your battery out

my guess is... its the starter motor shorting out

starter solenoid or relay

Just got the call.

Its the starter motor.  £300 fitted for a recon.

That must be a wind up.

Get it reconditioned yourself, shouldnt be any more than £60 to recondition.

Quote from: MarkThat must be a wind up.

Get it reconditioned yourself, shouldnt be any more than £60 to recondition.

This, my old Deawoo one was ~£400 for a replacement, but the local motor specialists charged me £70 for a full recon of my existing one.

Its pretty much par for the course Im afraid.
I rang round.  The prices are right.

wow.... thats a rip off :s

Quote from: soopahflyIts pretty much par for the course Im afraid.
I rang round.  The prices are right.

Ring an auto electrical workshop where they will recondition your motor - I guarantee it wont be any more than about £60.

The most I even paid for a recondition on a unit was £170 - and that was for a lorry starter.

My local pug independent garage had a starter motor for about £50 - £60 iirc and fitted it for that too. Get a cheaper garage. Although that was for my 106.

Quote from: BeakerThis, my old Deawoo one was ~£400 for a replacement,

are you serious? the starter for the S4 is about 200 notes and that turning over a 2.7 v6 biturbo lump and includes expensive german car tax, so i cant see a daewoo one being 400 spons!!!! ouch if it is!!!

Quote from: bytejunkie

Quote from: BeakerThis, my old Deawoo one was ~£400 for a replacement,

are you serious? the starter for the S4 is about 200 notes and that turning over a 2.7 v6 biturbo lump and includes expensive german car tax, so i cant see a daewoo one being 400 spons!!!! ouch if it is!!!

I just walked out, I only paid £450 for the car in the 1st place.  It was basically a Vauxhall (Bosch in that case), with a different flange fitting to go under the bonnet on the 1.8.  I wandered into the local auto electrical/Motor rewinding place and they did it for £70, and gave it me back the day after.  I wasnt paying out massive amounts for that bucket of bolts, though to be fair it was better than the horrible piece of french crap I had before then.