gyislander
DIY
- Reaction score
- 8
I posted back in April about a wierd starting issue but unfortunately got no replies and the issue is still ongoing and driving me nuts !
I have a 2011 Ford Ka 1.3 tdci. The car starts first turn of the key but the battery light stays on and the electric power steering doesnt click into action. There are no steering fault lights and no EML. If I switch off and restart ... but only within 20 seconds ... the battery light goes out and the steering works fine. Even if I just cycle the ignition on/off then start the car runs without any issues. Even when the battery light is on the car is charging at 14v. The battery is brand new and I tried another steering unit in the car but no difference.
I've generally good mechanical knowledge/experience but modern electronics remain a mystery. I've googled everything I can think of, bought books on vehicle electronics, found the 4cardata site a fantastic educational resource but I'm still stumped !
My scanner won't recognise the car as a Ka but will as a Fiat 500 ( I believe they're pretty much identical ). I have no fault codes other than an occasional "inertia function intermittent" but that doesn't bring on the EML. I have obtained the Fiat wiring diagrams (4cardata) and run continuity tests on the alternator wiring and the CAN system. I have switched relays around, checked every fuse and tested voltage on everything I can think of but found no differences in anything when running/starting faulty or perfectly. I have also removed and cleaned every earth I can find . I did notice that voltage on the CAN starts at 12v then switches to about 4.6v when running. Switch off and it climbs again to 12v in around about the critical 20 seconds but perhaps thats just coincidence.
Only other oddity I found was that the owners handbook says to depress the clutch on starting the car, not sure if thats given as advice or a neccessity as the car does have a position switch (tested and wired correctly to the BCM and ECU) but starts whether depressed or not.
I know that one of the ignition wires to the BCM is to "wake up" the system which I thought might be the issue but again I can't find any problems in that supply. I now understand that the alternator signals its output to the ECU which inputs that and signals from the RPM sensor to the BCM and CAN which triggers the battery light if its not happy. I can't figure out if the steering doesnt come on because the BCM thinks the car is short on volts or if the battery light is on because (for whatever reason) the steering isnt functioning.
Any expertise would be greatly appreciated as I live on an island where professional options are very limited !
I have a 2011 Ford Ka 1.3 tdci. The car starts first turn of the key but the battery light stays on and the electric power steering doesnt click into action. There are no steering fault lights and no EML. If I switch off and restart ... but only within 20 seconds ... the battery light goes out and the steering works fine. Even if I just cycle the ignition on/off then start the car runs without any issues. Even when the battery light is on the car is charging at 14v. The battery is brand new and I tried another steering unit in the car but no difference.
I've generally good mechanical knowledge/experience but modern electronics remain a mystery. I've googled everything I can think of, bought books on vehicle electronics, found the 4cardata site a fantastic educational resource but I'm still stumped !
My scanner won't recognise the car as a Ka but will as a Fiat 500 ( I believe they're pretty much identical ). I have no fault codes other than an occasional "inertia function intermittent" but that doesn't bring on the EML. I have obtained the Fiat wiring diagrams (4cardata) and run continuity tests on the alternator wiring and the CAN system. I have switched relays around, checked every fuse and tested voltage on everything I can think of but found no differences in anything when running/starting faulty or perfectly. I have also removed and cleaned every earth I can find . I did notice that voltage on the CAN starts at 12v then switches to about 4.6v when running. Switch off and it climbs again to 12v in around about the critical 20 seconds but perhaps thats just coincidence.
Only other oddity I found was that the owners handbook says to depress the clutch on starting the car, not sure if thats given as advice or a neccessity as the car does have a position switch (tested and wired correctly to the BCM and ECU) but starts whether depressed or not.
I know that one of the ignition wires to the BCM is to "wake up" the system which I thought might be the issue but again I can't find any problems in that supply. I now understand that the alternator signals its output to the ECU which inputs that and signals from the RPM sensor to the BCM and CAN which triggers the battery light if its not happy. I can't figure out if the steering doesnt come on because the BCM thinks the car is short on volts or if the battery light is on because (for whatever reason) the steering isnt functioning.
Any expertise would be greatly appreciated as I live on an island where professional options are very limited !
