HELP! Lucas Strikes!

[RBBailey]

Everything normal driving yesterday in my '89.

This morning, just when I was beginning to get into a rush to get to work on time, I go to start the car and it simply won't start. After stopping to figure out what is happeing I realize that it is almost like a dead battery, but not in several ways:

Works: Interior lights, exterior lights, radio, starter (new and strong -- no weakening of starter even after trying to start 4-5 times)

Does not work: cig lighter, NO dash warning lights when the key is turned, NO door/key bells, NO fuel pump noise, NO sound at all when the key is in the Run position. but the interior lights, headlights, and fog lights all work -- and are strong.

It is as if someone went through and pulled all of the nessissary wires to have the car running. The thing is just dead.

This just happens to be the day after we sold our Saab, so this is now officially my daily driver -- no exceptions.

????????? Baffled.

 

[sven]

This just happens to be the day after we sold our Saab, so this is now officially my daily driver -- no exceptions.

????????? Baffled.

Somehow your Rover knew this and is effing with you

Truck wont start without the fuel pump running, so Id try to troubleshoot that 1st before the other stuff.

Have you done anything lately on the electrical system? Something that might have disconnected? Whats the voltage at the battery terminals?

 

[RBBailey]

It's not just the fuel pump though, it is EVERYTHING except the lights and radio.

 

[Alexa]

accck! I have been going thru similar misery with my 89- after having to be towed home PT schram told me to check in the rear left wheel well- theres this plug this that attaches to part of the fuel pump or something like that, well the damn thing came loose, plugged it in and the mofo started right up.

 

[RBBailey]

I don't think the fuel pump runs the EFI light, Seat Belt light, Oil Temp, Water Temp, Brake Light, vent fan, EVERYTHING.

 

[sven]

Maybe its just the battery....Try starting it with the headlights on. See if they dim while cranking.

 

[RBBailey]

I tried jumping it -- same exact thing.

 

[sven]

Maybe the Fusable links? But I dont know where they are on an older RRC.

 

[JohnC]

Try cleaning the terminals on the battery or the grounds, seems like you're not getting enough juice.

 

[RBBailey]

They could be cleaner, but after giggling them around and using a jump from the DII, I would think this is not the problem.

 

[DiscoIIman]

The samething happened to me about a year ago on my D2. Had been driving
for around an hour and a half and stopped to pick up my daughter. Got in
and it wouldn't start. had everything go wrong that you described. Even
tried to jump it. Just wouldn't trun over. I bought a new battery and she
started right up. Not sure if that's what wrong with yours, but I'd try a new
battery.

 

[RBBailey]

I will be crawling all over the thing tonight to try to figure this out. I guess I will start with the battery terminals and main connections. I would like it if someone could tell me where else to look.

Is there a main terminal for the main fuse bank? Could the EFI computer be fried? Unplugged?

Wierd man, wierd... Luuuuuuuuuuucaaaaaaaaaasssssss!!

 

[Zane]

It sounds like your battery went. Probably split a cell or 2. Just replace it and everything should be fine. Hope this helps.

Zane

 

[carlosz]

MAIN "EFI" RELAY !!!!! it's located next to the fuel pump relay, in front of the engine computer. all of this crap sits under the passenger side front seat.

 

[RBBailey]

I will look. Thanks.

This car has no fusable link, so it is not that, the battery should be strong enough to light the dash lights, but it isn't, even though it is lighting the headlights and off-road IPF's!!

 

[andrewv]

Load test the battery. You're guessing.

 

[Discoinjapan]

MAIN "EFI" RELAY !!!!! it's located next to the fuel pump relay, in front of the engine computer. all of this crap sits under the passenger side front seat.

X2

You might as well change both of them, because there cheap and I'm not sure which one is wich.

 

[RBBailey]

I don't see how it could be the battery. I have cleaned the contacts, the battery is strong enough, and I have even hooked it up to the DII to try to jump it.

I stopped by Ship's Mechanical on the way home and he couldn't even figure what it might be. He said it would not be the EFI since even if you unplug the EFI the dash lights will come on.

Put it this way, I am able to turn on the flasher emergency lights, they work, the relay ticks away, but the flasher/turn signal light on the dash doesn't come on.

The windows work when the key is turned, the radio, the head lights, the IPF lights, the interior lights, and the starter, but nothing else.

Not the ARB pump, not vent fans, not anything else.

Remember, this is an '89, no fusable link, and the EFI/CPU only controls fuel injection. I specifiacally wanted an older classic for the reason that I thought it would have fewer electrical probs...

 

[Roverdoc]

ahhh...welcome to rangie ownership...I am alway asked "how I like my rover" and I reply..it is slow, gets horrible mpg, may break down at anytime....I LOVE MY ROVER AND WOULD PREFER TO DRIVE NOTHING ELSE...

 

[Discoinjapan]

Sorry, you got me. Maybe try checking all the grounds.