'04 coupe won't start
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 131
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From: West Jefferson North CArolina
'04 coupe won't start
Three month old battery.
Ran fine Thursday.
Started it Saturday and heard a faint clicking sound. Drove it a 1/4 mile to put it in a garage. Locked it and the alarm was on.
Today it won't start. Not even a clicking sound. All lights and headlights work including dash lights.
Possible security problem? If I disconnect the battery for a 30-60 minutes will things reset?
Thanks for any help you can give me.
Ran fine Thursday.
Started it Saturday and heard a faint clicking sound. Drove it a 1/4 mile to put it in a garage. Locked it and the alarm was on.
Today it won't start. Not even a clicking sound. All lights and headlights work including dash lights.
Possible security problem? If I disconnect the battery for a 30-60 minutes will things reset?
Thanks for any help you can give me.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 960
Likes: 1
From: Trussville AL
It still could be a bad battery. I'd have it tested first. Check your grounds. I've read about a ground on the passenger side of the motor that gets loose and can cause headaches.
Last edited by Zorlac; Oct 28, 2013 at 04:21 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
There are several reasons why a C5 wont crank.
Doing the things mentioned above are some of the things that you should check. Especially the loose battery terminals and starter solenoid terminal bolts.
Here is what i do when a C5 will not crank:
Turn on the lights and see if they raise and light normally. If they do, the battery charge is most likely not the issue.
Turn the ignition ON
If you have a MN6 trans, press the clutch to the floor, turn the key to START. While HOLDING the key to start, PUMP the clutch on and off the clutch safety switch on the fire wall,, while listening for a relay click in the passengers foot well. If you hear the click each time you press and release the clutch on the switch, That should be the THEFT DETERRENT RELAY (TDR) working like its suppose to. If it clicks when you open and close the clutch safety switch, the low voltage / low current side of the C5 starter circuit is working.
If you have an A4 Trans, you should be able to hear the relay click each time you turn the ignition switch to crank with the gear selector in PARK.
If you hear NO CLICK,, examine the schematic and check the 3 fuses that supply the relay and switch:
The TDR can and sometimes does fail BUT, not very frequently. Its approx $12 at the parts store.
If the battery terminals are clean and tight (11 ft/lbs for 97-2003 C5s) look at the solenoid/starter
More often than not,,,,,,, I find the starter solenoid is the prime suspect for the NO CRANK issue. I changed mine and it resolved ALL my INFREQUENT NO CRANK issues.
Do some DTC reading as that is also very important, post the DTCs and let us know what you find out. If you have a weak battery,, the CTCs will tell the truth!
BC
Doing the things mentioned above are some of the things that you should check. Especially the loose battery terminals and starter solenoid terminal bolts.
Here is what i do when a C5 will not crank:
Turn on the lights and see if they raise and light normally. If they do, the battery charge is most likely not the issue.
Turn the ignition ON
If you have a MN6 trans, press the clutch to the floor, turn the key to START. While HOLDING the key to start, PUMP the clutch on and off the clutch safety switch on the fire wall,, while listening for a relay click in the passengers foot well. If you hear the click each time you press and release the clutch on the switch, That should be the THEFT DETERRENT RELAY (TDR) working like its suppose to. If it clicks when you open and close the clutch safety switch, the low voltage / low current side of the C5 starter circuit is working.
If you have an A4 Trans, you should be able to hear the relay click each time you turn the ignition switch to crank with the gear selector in PARK.
If you hear NO CLICK,, examine the schematic and check the 3 fuses that supply the relay and switch:
The TDR can and sometimes does fail BUT, not very frequently. Its approx $12 at the parts store.
If the battery terminals are clean and tight (11 ft/lbs for 97-2003 C5s) look at the solenoid/starter
More often than not,,,,,,, I find the starter solenoid is the prime suspect for the NO CRANK issue. I changed mine and it resolved ALL my INFREQUENT NO CRANK issues.
Do some DTC reading as that is also very important, post the DTCs and let us know what you find out. If you have a weak battery,, the CTCs will tell the truth!
BC
Last edited by Bill Curlee; Oct 28, 2013 at 11:41 PM.
