shorted starter motor - now car wont start :-(

[bruceiow]

Hey,

 

I posted yesterday about the fact that my fabia wouldnt start after a starter motor change. Well after much messing around I found thanks to some brilliant people on here that the earth wire was detached and had shorted out.

 

Well happily that is all attached now and the car cranks over again, but it wont start. It almost catches, but wont go.

 

I notice that I dont get any lights (ASR, airbag, battery etc) on the dash when cranking at all. I am getting power as i can hear the familiar noise when the drivers door opens and the door/boot open light works and so do the door lights. the battery is full as i tricked it to a full charge yesterday.

 

I checked as many fuses as i could at the roadside, but they all seemed ok :-( 

 

Has anyone got any ideas what might be wrong?

 

 

[JC85]

Try changing battery

[Breezy_Pete]

First thing I'd do is try to find any/all other earth wires (usually brown) that connect the engine to the chassis or battery negative. 

In the absence of the 'proper' return path for the starter motor current, it will go wherever else it can to get back to battery neg.

 

If you're lucky, you'll find a thin brown wire somewhere that's fried, and replacing it will put you back to 'all good'. 

[bruceiow]

sorted.. got garage out. A few fuses had gone, she is back up and running again :-)