Non-starter TD5 - starter holding in?

Hi,

I posted this under the Engine area in error.

My 99 diesel 2.5 TD5 has suffered a few problems which I am trying to diagnose.


1. Non-starter + Power steering?

On 8th September, 2 days before my wedding, my then fiance pulled into a multi-story car park. As she was straightening up in the parking space, the steering went very stiff. She turned the engine off, thinking it might just all need to reset, but then it wouldnt start.

When i went to it after work, i turned the engine over but it sounded very sluggish and low on battery power. At one point the starter motor was holding in even with ignition off and key out??

The RAC came out, they connected a jump battery and it still sounded like a flat battery and did the whole turning over without a key trick again.

Is this a power steering issue or something else? The car was apparantly making 'strange noises' before she pulled in to the car park.

3. Clutch has been on the way out for a while could this have gone and caused the problem above. Im replacing the clutch this weekend, any tips?

3. Rear air suspension - Dead Compressor?? (ive read air suspension post)

The rear has very, very gradually dropped over the last few months. I didnt even notice until i took 3 mates to Newquay in August. With all our gear, we were very low on the floor, scraping speed humps.

It was then I realised the compressor wasn't kicking in as i would have expected the air susp to level itself up.

The airbags haven't lost all pressure and its still not on the floor. Is this normal, as from what ive read on here, it should be on the floor - which its not.

Any ideas on any of these problems would be great.

Many, Many Thanks

Mike

sounds like the ignition switch or relay is sticking causing the starter to stay engaged. I'm gonna guess that the strange noise yer missus heard was her driving with the starter motor still going.

Thanks Ratty

I've got the starter out now (Im in the garage as i type) and its working fine when connected direct to the battery.

I used the motor before my wife on the 8th and the steering made some strange noises when towards full lock. Just called her to ask about the noises and she said it was went she went round corners and she could feel it through the steering wheel.

im starting to think power steering pump, but why the issues with starting??

Update on this issue - help still required!!

We've replaced the clutch but we still cant get the engine started.

We have bench tested the Starter motor and it works ok.
we have run a separate live from the fully charged battery to the alternator and when i turn the key, it still sounds low on power.
The starter motor also holds in sometimes even when iginition is off and no power from battery.

power is getting to the starter
starter is turning engine, but not fast enough
starter is holding in.

If it was the igniiton switch, would this still explain the slow turn over??

Really need some suggestions????

many thanks

1. worth a check on the PAS pump(taking into account that the steering is stiff)...it could put a pressure on the auxiliary belt
2. Take a look at the viscous fan when u turn the engine.......the viscous unit could be blocked if it turns......that might be the cause of rough turning on ignition
3. Make sure the crankshaft pulley is ok.

Thanks for your suggestions, the viscous fan is not currently attached, so its not that.

The power steering was making strange noises before it cut out, so it may be the pump - that'll be the next job.

That still wouldnt explain why the starter holds in though..

For the starter issue (if it's not something mechanical which is above my knowledge): while it's stucked in pullout the starter relay(R2 from engine bay fusebox)...maybe the solenoid stays energized for some reason...if the starter dissengages then take a multimeter and measure voltage on the fuseboxe's contacts for the relay's coil.....it gets +12V from the ignition switch and earth through the BCU......normally it must not be any voltage there without ignition on.........if no voltage it means that the relay's contact is closed for some reason....try with an other relay....if it is voltage there then start from the ignition switch to see where does the +12V come from.