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Attempted restart on cold mornings -- NOTHING! Not a click from starter

This is getting to be a frustration point.

Car is a 1994 850 2.4 litre with automatic.

I start the car, and it can be idling for a while (like this morning). I stop the engine and then go for a restart (going back into the locked house) a very short time later.

When I turn the ignition key, I get nothing. The dash lights come on but there's no sound from the engine -- not even a clicking from the selenoids.

This goes for a period of up to an hour. Suddenly, everything works.

I've had this with a totally cold engine, with a slightly warmed engine, even once on the highway.

What should I be looking at when I next take it to the shop?

Any other advice other than "don't shut it off!"

Reply to
Byrocat
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Presumably there's an interlock on the gear selector which prevents the engine from starting in anything other than P or N? Have you tried waggling the gear selector in case the interlock is operating when it shouldn't be?

Reply to
Bonnet Lock

The electrical portion of the ignition switch is a notorious weak point. Starters tend to fail in the manner you describe. Someone needs to check both.

Bob

Reply to
radietz

Firstly, dont idle a cold engine- drive it straight away.

Secondly, try moving the shifter slightly back and forth in P and N whilst turning the key. If it starts, replace the PND position switch (common fault) If it doesnt try waggling the key from side to side whilst in the "start" position. If it then starts replace the ignition switch (separate from the lock barrel- again common fault)

Tim..

Reply to
Tim (Remove NOSPAM.

Thanks, Rob and Tim!

Of course, the problem will not re-appear....

Not very good news on the car front, literally. Took it into the shop and had them do a radiator flush as well as the usual OLF and tire rotation.

Got a call about an hour after I dropped it off. "You have a leak in the radiator with the tranmission intercooler. This is a drive-no-more-till-fixed item."

ZOUNDS! five hundred dollars' worth of Zounds!

PLUS, my wife's little red rocket-sled (S40T) went in and is in need of a complete set of booties (tires)....

Well, there go the Christmas gifts -- everyone's getting socks and month-of-the-year underwear and pencils...

Reply to
Byrocat

On the brighter side, count your blessings that it was caught before transmission symptoms brought it to your attention!

Mike

Reply to
Michael Pardee

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