JMRolfe Posted April 3, 2019 Share Posted April 3, 2019 Hi My 350 has been sitting still for 4 weeks. Got in 1/2 expecting a flat battery but started instantly, not problems (had full tank of fuel if relevant). About 5 miles into my drive, the engine seemed to cut out for a fraction of a second, speedo dropped to zero, but then all restored as though nothing had happened. I tried accelerating / breaking / pulled over etc but didn't reoccur or show anything unusual. 10miles further on. It cut out again, this time not restarting. I was doing approx 60mph, in gear etc. but speedo said 0 and lights were on as though it was waiting to be started?? Whilst moving I slowed down to approx 15mph and effectively did a bump start but nothing happened at all. Engine turned happily but dials show the revs etc. but no speed? Accelerater pedal did nothing. Pulled over, and it's acting as though the clutch hasn't been depressed when trying to start it. Alternator seems to work. Battery went dead whilst at side of road with hazards, lights on etc. for 45min waiting for a friend. Jump start did nothing / made no difference. We retried bump starting whilst he towed it. Didn't work but did give enough charge for lights etc. for following 5min? Hence me thinking alternator isn't the problem? Don't know if it was a silly thing to do but ended up periodically putting it back in gear whilst on two as for downhills it kept tention in the tow rope and reinstated power steering / breaks / power etc. It was raining yesterday, and post this incident front wipers are not responding? Rear works fine? Does anyone have any ideas? I'm assuming it is either electrical or blockage in the fuel line & the ecu knows not to bother until fuel is through?? Many thanks James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMANALEX Posted April 3, 2019 Share Posted April 3, 2019 1st thing to do is make sure that the battery is 100% and all battery connections and engine grounds are good. Any fault codes stored? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMRolfe Posted April 3, 2019 Author Share Posted April 3, 2019 51 minutes ago, ZMANALEX said: 1st thing to do is make sure that the battery is 100% and all battery connections and engine grounds are good. Any fault codes stored? Even when jump starting / bumping does nothing? Battery is approx 4 years old so may well be due a change? I don't have a way of reading fault codes for this one unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMANALEX Posted April 3, 2019 Share Posted April 3, 2019 These work, and cheap enough just to keep in car. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Universal-Car-Fault-Code-Reader-U480-Engine-Scanner-Diagnostic-OBD2-OBDII-ELM327/122087453345?epid=1782520094&hash=item1c6cfab2a1:g:3ikAAOSwU-pXss5U Get the battery etc checked first. Thereafter crank and cam sensors to be looked at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMRolfe Posted April 3, 2019 Author Share Posted April 3, 2019 Have just ordered one of these! Last time I used one was approx 15 years ago. Cost £100+ and never really used so haven't looked at them since. Had not realised they'd gotten so cheap! Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMRolfe Posted April 11, 2019 Author Share Posted April 11, 2019 So… as an update, bought a OBDII plugin – this showed no faults? Possibly should have bought a different one? I wanted one that linked to my phone so got the white one per recommendations on here, shows various ECU items but says “no faults logged”? Dropped it off to the garage, he said the fault codes he was getting were a bit ‘meaningless’ (didn’t say what they were)? Checked various points and then found that the complete fuse box is corroded. He said it looks as though it had been submerged in water and was surprised I’d been driving??? He has scrubbed and cleaned it + replaced some relays. Car now starts and all appears to work with exception of the front wipers (which were on continuously as I stopped)? So next step for me is to Source / replace the fuse box. Work out how water would have got into that area of the car? There are several fuse boxes on ebay for around £35. Are their any variations? I know on the Clio I had to match one of the fuse boxes to the ECU. Anyone else had water in here? The car is almost always parked at with front right (OSF) corner pointing down a hill. I’ve not been driving through big puddles etc? @ZMANALEX thanks for your help / interest / support! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMANALEX Posted April 11, 2019 Share Posted April 11, 2019 I can probably help with the supply of a fuse box. What fuse box is it, as there are more than one on the 350.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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