Non-Starter - Update!

[Goonerdad]

Hi Guys,

I am not having much luck at the moment with my X5 - first it got smashed after 9 days of ownership now it won't start.

Been out in the car this morning with no issues and just tried to go out again and it just keeps turning over.

Car is a 4.4 2004 facelift.

Any ideas before i get it towed to a garage?

[pvr]

Sounds very similar to the issue Condor had - can you do a search for her posts?

[pvr]

And another thread:

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=1796&p=19063#p19063

This is what CondorX5 said: "he twiddled the gear lever up and down a few times and claimed that a sensor was sometimes at fault and the car "thought" it wasn't in park "

[Goonerdad]

Thanks for the lightening quick reply - i'll try a bit later as dont want to flood it or flatten the battery!

[Rusty]

First thought was petrol pump relay.

Plenty on here about it if you do a search.

Hope you get it sorted cheaply


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[Goonerdad]

Hey guys,

Following advice from the forums i tried a different key but still did not start.

I have found an entry from X5Sport which refers to the fuel pump relay (as do many others).

I am absolutely pants with mechanical things so bare with me please.............

X5 Sport says '......its (relay) is located above the fuse board above the glove box and is the one nearest the firewall.................'

I have found the fuse box (although took me a few attempts to open it!) - where is the relay? Is it under the bonnet or actually somewhere in the glove box??? Is it easily accessible or do i need tools etc?

Also - what is meant by the firewall?

I have a pic of a relay so I think i know what i am looking for - just can't see it.

Sorry if these questions are very basic but i am trying to avoid a trip to the garage.............

[Goonerdad]

Update - was going to call the RAC at 1800 to come and have a look at the car giving them all evening to arrive. I am off work tomorrow so if it needed flat bedding somewhere could have sorted it out easier.

Thought I would try the car one last time and yes...you guessed it....it bleeding started! Took a while but it was slightly firing today rather than just turning over and i feathered the throttle and she spluttered into life...............

Not too sure what to do now really.........................

[Sanj]

There's a hidden menu option to check the voltage from the battery (search for hidden menu and author Jeegnesh), could be a starter. Then may be a good Indy to get it diagnosed?

Well done and hope a quick drive charges it up!

If you need a new battery, G&s and Euro Car Part have quoted £94 for a Bosch Silverline S4...

[CondorX5]

Goonerdad, I had some issues with my 4.8is doing a similar random non-start thing for no apparent reason. Touch wood hasn't happened in some time now. Recovery guys (mine was under AUC warranty) said it could be a sensor issue with the immobiliser - just as pvr said above. Other possibility is potential valvetronic levers - I know Turks had no end of problems and managed to get the expensive job done under warranty, I think.....
Then again, the fuel pump relay caused all sorts of issues for someone else with a non-starter.

In my case, there were no stored fault codes which made a potential immobiliser issue possible or indeed a valvetronic lever issue......

Keep us posted as it would be good to know if you trace the source of the problem, I remain slightly uneasy about there being no stored fault codes so no definitive reason for the failure of my 4.8 to start.......

One last tip is to be be careful when turning the ignition switch on - turn it to stage two and let all the lights settle down before starting it - a delay of a few seconds, but touch wood, I've done this as recommended as I haven't had another of these failed start issues since doing this routinely.