2001 XC70 Clicks but won't start

surfziggy · Post by **surfziggy** » 04 Jan 2015, 21:34

Over the Christmas break we took our car on a camping trip. Intermittently the car refused to start;
* Engine doesn't turn over
* A single click is heard
* Battery has been recently replaced
* But car had been standing for a while
* Jump starting the car didn't help, and neither did fully charging the battery from a battery charger (Voltage at terminals shows 12.7v when car is stopped)
* I tried connecting pin 87 -> 30 at the fuel pump relay and the engine cranked
* If I left the car for a bit and tried again it will sometimes start

Today, I disconnected the antennae ring and then reconnected it and the car started working. But then next time I tried it didn't work.
I also read that the starter inhibitor switch on the auto shifter can cause this, but when I removed a few sections of the console, it wasn't obvious where this switch was located.
I've ordered a new ignition switch and the antennae ring to try and see if this fixes it. Any other ideas what it may be?

Post by **regent** » 05 Jan 2015, 08:36

Check your B+ (Battery positive) supply terminal at the main fusebox (inside the engine compartment); look for discoloration, loose crimp, corrosion, etc. This is a known offender point. (I am assuming you have already ruled out the terminal connections at the battery itself)

Post by **vtl** » 05 Jan 2015, 09:15

95% it's starter. Wiggle small wire next time it refuses to start.. If the car starts after that, you may want to clean contacts thoroughly, both sides, pry spring in plug part, so it is more tight, and apply some dielectric grease.

draser · Post by **draser** » 05 Jan 2015, 11:01

If the click comes from engine bay that's the starter solenoid that kicks in but may not "make" the contact to starter motor. You can test that with voltmeter or check light. If that works then it's worn brushes in starter making intermittent contact. That's all true if regent's test passes.

surfziggy · Post by **surfziggy** » 05 Jan 2015, 20:27

I was originally thinking it's starter, but as I mentioned, when I jump terminals 30& 87 on relay AMF4 the engine turns over just fine. So surely it can't be?

surfziggy · Post by **surfziggy** » 05 Jan 2015, 20:28

>Check your B+ (Battery positive) supply terminal at the main fusebox (inside the engine compartment); look for discoloration, loose crimp, corrosion, etc. This is a known offender point. (I am assuming you have already ruled out the terminal connections at the battery itself)

Great, will try this today. I already cleaned the battery connections and the main earth connection.

draser · Post by **draser** » 06 Jan 2015, 06:50

Is AMF4 pulled in when you jump its contacts, is that where the click comes from? You tried swapping the relay?

surfziggy · Post by **surfziggy** » 20 Jan 2015, 00:53

I fixed it by changing the ignition switch and the antennae ring parts. These are both accessed by removing the cover around the steering column/indicator switches.

Oka · Post by **Oka** » 13 Jun 2018, 08:44

surfziggy wrote: ↑04 Jan 2015, 21:34 * A single click is heard
-
* I tried connecting pin 87 -> 30 at the fuel pump relay and the engine cranked
* If I left the car for a bit and tried again it will sometimes start
-
Today, I disconnected the antennae ring and then reconnected it and the car started working. But then next time I tried it didn't work.

Yours is a single click, but mine are clicking as long as I have the ignition in the start position
Please, any instructions on how to really do the "87 to 30" pin connecting? I could not find how to do that. Also, when you say "the engine cranked", do you mean it just 'turned' or the car started?
Also, what about the antenna ring you mentioned?
Thanks and cheers.

Post by **oragex** » 13 Jun 2018, 09:46

Oka wrote: ↑13 Jun 2018, 08:44
surfziggy wrote: ↑04 Jan 2015, 21:34 * A single click is heard
-
* I tried connecting pin 87 -> 30 at the fuel pump relay and the engine cranked
* If I left the car for a bit and tried again it will sometimes start
-
Today, I disconnected the antennae ring and then reconnected it and the car started working. But then next time I tried it didn't work.
Yours is a single click, but mine are clicking as long as I have the ignition in the start position
Please, any instructions on how to really do the "87 to 30" pin connecting? I could not find how to do that. Also, when you say "the engine cranked", do you mean it just 'turned' or the car started?
Also, what about the antenna ring you mentioned?
Thanks and cheers.

I would start by measuring the battery. Also try jump start the engine see what it does. If replacing the battery is good to have an eye on the new one in case there is a parasitic drain or an issue with the alternator.