[Stuey]

Ok, just after a few possible causes to see if I can eliminate potential problems.

Driving home late last night, engine cuts out with no dash warning lights illuminated ie. check engine, brake, oil, alt etc did not illuminate as you would normally expect with a stalled car with the key in the "on" position. All other electrics were working. I had all vehicle lighting both external and internal, accessory power and the engine would turn over in the "start" position but would not fire. I did note that the fuel pump would not prime when the key was moved to "on" prior to starting, the same time at which you would expect the warning lights to come on. Checked fuses under dash and under bonnet, all fine. Immobiliser would engage and disengage as normal. After sitting at the side of the road for a good half hour and repeated attempts to find a fault, everything suddenly decided to work again. There was a distinctive "click" (electronic like a solenoid) from under the dash when the key was turned to "on", dash warning lights came on and bingo!...... She fired. Drove home fine.

What things could have caused this. Faulty ignition barrel perhaps? Any thoughts.....

Cheers.

[atari4x4]

how big is your bunch of keys?

[Stuey]

Only tiny. Two key, immobiliser remote and plastic tag. Not heavy at all.

[Reubs]

Stuey wrote:

immobiliser

Faulty immobiliser or associated wiring?

[brando93]

Loose plug for fuel pump somewhere along the line. I kept having the same problem in my vit and turned out to be the final plug above the tank, but could be any one of them eg at taillight or under dash.

[brando93]

I could literally get it to run by pressing plug together then when i let go it loosened off and died down as it starved of fuel

[Pooke]

Sounds like immobiliser to me, If it it cuttin the 'On' circut on the ignition swicth, that would explain lack of dash lights, cranking but not starting, well everything actually, I would be looking at the immobiliser first.

edit: check the immobiliser relay should be pretty close/attached to the ignition switch wiring.

[nicko27]

This Happened on My coil Sierra, it was a loose plug under the dash.

[Scrawny]

What does the immobiliser cut? Is it just fuel pump? Or ECU as well? It does sound suspiciously like an immobiliser problem but could also be a relay

[CO-D]

Bump on this thread. was there an ending?
My coily Sierra seems in the same boat, 96 model 1.3L tin top, has an aftermarket black box immobiliser fitted with some dodgy looking cables connected to a relay that clicks on and off when I try to turn the engine over. nothing happens but the relay clicking on and off. Red LED light flashes but stays solid red when I attempt to turn it over. I have bypassed all of the starter motor wiring by running a new cable straight from the ignition barrel to the starter and now it just turns over without a spark and smells like it is getting a lot of fuel. assuming the POS immobiliser also controls the spark?
has anyone had this issue before?

currently left my sierra out on the farm and begged for a lift into town!

[Darrell]

With the ignition on check you have 12v positive on the ignition coil terminal with the black/white wire. Breaking into this supply is the most common way to immobilise the spark.

[CO-D]

Thanks Darrell
I will check for voltage today im going go say it might not have volgage because the immobiliser has held it out. Inside the black box are three relays im assuming that they hold out the starter motor and spark?

[CO-D]

Solved!
Traced all wires back from immobiliser and snipped. Rejoined yellow/black and blue/black wires and fired up straight away