L322 not starting

kjr640 · Nov 11, 2023

Hi All, any help really appreciated

I’ve been having battery drain issues so bought a multimeter and a car fuse tester.

Long story short charged up my battery and then checked all my fuses and also unplugged the battery… but now my car won’t start after putting everything back together.

This is a new issue and sounds different from when the battery was dead and we have different symptoms. It’s definitely not a dead battery because it’s showing 12.4volts and my car won’t start off a jump start either.

I turn my key twice and the fan under the bonnet is turning on (this has never happened like this before so I knew something was wrong). Then I turn my key to start my car and it’s not starting (it’s trying to start but not actually firing up) although the fan is on.

I can they’ll but think I’ve done something silly whilst working on the fuses (checked these all again and made sure battery terminals are tight).

Any ideas? It’s a 2003 L322.
Thanks

Datatek · Nov 11, 2023

kjr640 said:
Hi All, any help really appreciated

I’ve been having battery drain issues so bought a multimeter and a car fuse tester.

Long story short charged up my battery and then checked all my fuses and also unplugged the battery… but now my car won’t start after putting everything back together.

This is a new issue and sounds different from when the battery was dead and we have different symptoms. It’s definitely not a dead battery because it’s showing 12.4volts and my car won’t start off a jump start either.

I turn my key twice and the fan under the bonnet is turning on (this has never happened like this before so I knew something was wrong). Then I turn my key to start my car and it’s not starting (it’s trying to start but not actually firing up) although the fan is on.

I can they’ll but think I’ve done something silly whilst working on the fuses (checked these all again and made sure battery terminals are tight).

Any ideas? It’s a 2003 L322.
Thanks

For a start, 12.4 volts is pretty low. I think you will need diagnostics. does the car lock and unlock from the FOB?

norseman · Nov 11, 2023

Datatek said:
For a start, 12.4 volts is pretty low. I think you will need diagnostics. does the car lock and unlock from the FOB?

Agreed.
Just out of interest did you get that voltage reading shortly after charging the battery or an hour or so later, as a freshly charged battery needs to 'settle' for at least an hour before you (can) take an accurate reading.

Either way, as Data says 12.4 isn't good from a charged battery, you should be looking at 12.8 upwards.

kjr640 · Nov 11, 2023

Datatek said:
For a start, 12.4 volts is pretty low. I think you will need diagnostics. does the car lock and unlock from the FOB?

Yes it does, and just resynched it just in case. Fob works fine.

The car always started once I charged the battery/ jump started it but now it’s just cranking whilst the fan is operating …

kjr640 · Nov 11, 2023

norseman said:
Agreed.
Just out of interest did you get that voltage reading shortly after charging the battery or an hour or so later, as a freshly charged battery needs to 'settle' for at least an hour before you (can) take an accurate reading.

Either way, as Data says 12.4 isn't good from a charged battery, you should be looking at 12.8 upwards.

I’ll take the reading in an hours time once the battery has settled.

My main concern is I’ve obviously fiddled with something accidentally today and now my car just cranks and can’t start and I’ve got no idea what’s caused this. Plus the fan turning on hasn’t happened like this before either. It’s a shame I can’t add a video on here.

kjr640 · Nov 11, 2023

kjr640 said:
I’ll take the reading in an hours time once the battery has settled.

My main concern is I’ve obviously fiddled with something accidentally today and now my car just cranks and can’t start and I’ve got no idea what’s caused this. Plus the fan turning on hasn’t happened like this before either. It’s a shame I can’t add a video on here.

Not far off 12.4 or so after an hours wait (I know it’s not great and this is probably down to the parasitic battery drain that started all this!).

So I just tried to start my car again and no luck. I turn the key twice and the fan under the bonnet powers on and my car cranks but won’t start. Not sure but seems like I’ve done something to send the fan into overdrive whilst also causing my car not to start :0

Help needed and appreciated folks

brianp38dse · Nov 11, 2023

Low volts will cause an l322 to have a hissy fit, with 12.4 before you start it will drop even lower with ignition on and take a dive when cranking, new battery time and put it on charge for a day or so before fitting as a new battery can be down from sitting on the shelf for god knows how long.

Datatek · Nov 12, 2023

kjr640 said:
Not far off 12.4 or so after an hours wait (I know it’s not great and this is probably down to the parasitic battery drain that started all this!).

So I just tried to start my car again and no luck. I turn the key twice and the fan under the bonnet powers on and my car cranks but won’t start. Not sure but seems like I’ve done something to send the fan into overdrive whilst also causing my car not to start :0

Help needed and appreciated folks

.......

Datatek · Nov 12, 2023

The L322 is a complicated beast, I doubt you will get anywhere without diagnostics and a good battery voltage.

backinblack · Nov 16, 2023

What engine

kjr640 · Nov 17, 2023

backinblack said:
What engine

TD6, 3 litre diesel

backinblack · Nov 17, 2023

The fan under the bonnet could be the FBH if the weather is cold enough and unrelated to your diagnostics.
Have you checked the fuel pressures with diagnostics? Fuel pressure regulators are known to fail as well as fuel pumps.

L322 not starting

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