GodGraham
22-04-2009, 07:16 PM
Hey guys, I have had an intermittant problem with my third gen TE (altera) where it won't start on random occasions..
When it happens it hits hard, if i drive for 30 minutes and turn it off for one minute then back on it won't turn back on.
It used to be rare that it happened but now it is happening a few times a week.
I've been told it could be a solenoid touching something (I dont know what the solenoid is or what it does without googling it so i have no idea about this one).
What happens when you turn the key is it will try to start but won't 'turn over' sort of thing.
recently I noticed that it only does this if the engine light is on.
tonight on the way back from work it wouldn't start whenever the engine light was on, but after playing with the immobilizer and trying it for a good 15 minutes the engine light finally went off, and when I tried it, it worked.
This is getting pretty fustrating and I dont have much time to get it fixed.
Has anyone come across this before or know what the cause may be, and possibly how to fix it?
all help is appreciated, cheers!
(I have bought a new battery along with a battery volt guage, the battery is not the issue & it usually shows 12-13 volts when the car is off but drops to 10-11ish when I try starting it then goes back up again, which I assume is normal)
When it happens it hits hard, if i drive for 30 minutes and turn it off for one minute then back on it won't turn back on.
It used to be rare that it happened but now it is happening a few times a week.
I've been told it could be a solenoid touching something (I dont know what the solenoid is or what it does without googling it so i have no idea about this one).
What happens when you turn the key is it will try to start but won't 'turn over' sort of thing.
recently I noticed that it only does this if the engine light is on.
tonight on the way back from work it wouldn't start whenever the engine light was on, but after playing with the immobilizer and trying it for a good 15 minutes the engine light finally went off, and when I tried it, it worked.
This is getting pretty fustrating and I dont have much time to get it fixed.
Has anyone come across this before or know what the cause may be, and possibly how to fix it?
all help is appreciated, cheers!
(I have bought a new battery along with a battery volt guage, the battery is not the issue & it usually shows 12-13 volts when the car is off but drops to 10-11ish when I try starting it then goes back up again, which I assume is normal)