1st Failure to Start

[Doc883]

Was heading up to Knockhill this afternoon to take part in the Monklands trackday so stopped off at Shell South Queensferry to squeeze in the last few litres of V Power. Paid and jumped back in the car and it wouldn't start. Dash lights came on, radio etc and the fuel pump even primed but nothing after that. Tried numerous times then tried re-synching the fob, no change, then went through re-entering the 4 digit code to by-pass the immobiliser, still nothing so a quick call to the AA. He managed to get the car running with a foot long length piece of wire by bypassing the electronics in the engine bay in some magical way. Only problem was if I stalled the car on my way back to Livingston it wasn't going to start again. Limped home, stuck it in the garage then switched it off. Tried re-starting and nothing, also tried with spare key with the same result. The AA man reckons it's the multi-function unit (whatever that is/does) so it's going to be a visit to MMC tomorrow. Only had the car 4 months, although it's a 52 plate base Elise, and bought it from MMC so it has a warranty One thing I have noticed is that when the dash lights go off after turning the ignition on the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) remains on. Anyone experienced similar

Needess to say after a day of sunshine and what should have been a great track evening I was back home in time for Eastenders

[Mikie711]

Don't know whats more sad, the fact that you missed a track evening with cracking weather or the fact you watch eastsadders


Sorry to hear your car broke down though, for your info this is what the AA guy was talking about. Handles power distribution for the car, and would display symptoms similar to what you experienced.

[robin]

I'll bet it's the immobiliser relay cutting the starter circuit .. .could be the MFRU start relay also, which would have the exact same symptoms ... it's a shame the AA man didn't show you the procedure for hotwiring it which is a doddle in this particular case and you could have gone to the track day ..

Cheers,
Robin

[Gourlay83]

I'll bet it's the immobiliser relay cutting the starter circuit .. .could be the MFRU start relay also, which would have the exact same symptoms ... it's a shame the AA man didn't show you the procedure for hotwiring it which is a doddle in this particular case and you could have gone to the track day ..

Cheers,
Robin

Yep, Elise Parts have even started selling the plug with correct wires looped. Handy thing to have lying around me thinks

Alan

[Doc883]

I'll bet it's the immobiliser relay cutting the starter circuit .. .could be the MFRU start relay also, which would have the exact same symptoms ... it's a shame the AA man didn't show you the procedure for hotwiring it which is a doddle in this particular case and you could have gone to the track day ..
Cheers,Robin

Turned out to be a humble fuse for the immobiliser located in the engine bay near the ecu apparantly, one to remember for next time me thinks
Thanks to Kirk @ MMC for the quick fix on last Friday in time for the weekend.