Ghia

I need help guys,

I have an EF V8 Ghia and it wont start.
When i turn the key to the 'On' position the thermos fire up (not too sure if they should straight away?) and sometimes they will switch from on/off randomly - whilst the car has not been started. You can hear the relays going mad?!?!?

When you turn the key it 'attempts' to start, but wont turn over.
I thought i had the problem licked, but it appears that it will only sometimes start (it appears to be getting slightly worse).

What has got me realy wondering is if there is any connection between the wierdo theromos and the lack of starting.
It doesn't seem to make a difference if the car is hot or cold.

For example the other day it finaly started, i drive it for 15 mins then i parked it. I went to start it up 2 mins later and NOTHING

Please Help!!!!!!!!!!!

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XR9UTE

Sounds like classic bad ground symptoms;
The first thing to check would be you block to battery grounds. You should have zero ohms from block to body or block to battery negative.
It is normal for the fans to click on at start up.

Pete

Ghia

Thanks Pete,
I'll check that out tomorrow when it's light again.
I was worried about the thermos becuase they were continously clicking between on and off for about 5 mins without the car haveing been started :\

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XR9UTE

Yep, That sounds like you've got a loose battery terminal or block ground strap that intermittantly makes connection.

Pete.

rally

I had a similar problem with my I6. It was traced to the Body Electronics Module, (under the dash between the steering column and the radio) specifically a dry joint somewhere in the smartlock circuit in the BEM. The easy fix was to just cross the two wires that are the signal in from the ignition and the signal out to the engine computer, bypassing the smartlock circuit in the BEM. I can't recall the colour of these two wires, but they were the same colour and adjecent to each other on the plug.

Obviously, this change disables smartlock.

snavy

check your coils.

MKII240T

If none of above solutions solve the problem. when the car is in Limp Home Mode. the theroms will stay on constantly as a precaution.

dcstraight

Maybe it's a 'dirty EF' symptom ? ;-) hehe

Seriously though - remember when Paul checked to see if a plug was unplugged that time at the Docklands - check them again perhaps ? Also, remember we fiddled with the battery terminals ?? Have you checked that all grounds are secure ?

Cheers,
Steve

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Wagons are rarer ;-)

Ghia

Well It starts again!
I was running out of ideas before calling in a professional and I thought I would try 1 last thing. Smartlock.
I was gonig to follow through the 'Starting a Smartlock Immobilised Falcon' http://www.fordmods.com/body.php?p=Smartlock from the Fordmods site, and after having the keys in the on position for about 3 mins, the smartlock light flashed once (i think), the thermos turned off and I heard a few relays going to do their work - and I just had a good feeling. So I tried to give it a start and it started.
Whats got me worried though is, wtf happened.:hrm:
I just want to know if I should attempt to drive it to public places again - for fear of it not starting again:dead:

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Ghia

Well, just another update.
After driving it around, I needed some fuel.
Into the petrol station I go. Fill up, and gues what!
It wont damn well start again :sad: :sad: :sad:
So Its stuck down at the Petrol Station as we speak.
If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated.

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