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2004 Bentley GT sat for 4+ months with previous owner connected to dead batteries- recently replaced both batteries and still have limited power (seats work, infotainment system powers up) however the car does not attempt to crank over at all unless connected to a external power source. Connected and tried to start, all dash lights began to flicker along with ebrake (see vid attached) any ideas on what this means?
2004 Bentley GT sat for 4+ months with previous owner connected to dead batteries- recently replaced both batteries and still have limited power (seats work, infotainment system powers up) however the car does not attempt to crank over at all unless connected to a external power source. Connected and tried to start, all dash lights began to flicker along with ebrake (see vid attached) any ideas on what this means?
Firstly I would be checking that both new batteries are fully charged. Personally I would take then off the car or at least completely disconect them and charge each one with a good battery charger, not a maintenance charger.
Then I would fit them paying particular attention to the battery terminals. Make sure they are clean and all the terminals are fastened up tight.
Do not attempt to crank the engine with any type of booster charger. Only ever attempt to crank over with the cars own batteries.
With good, fully charges batteries the engine should at least crank over. Try using the emergency start procedure where by turn the ignition key fully anti clockwise to engage both batteries.
Firstly I would be checking that both new batteries are fully charged. Personally I would take then off the car or at least completely disconect them and charge each one with a good battery charger, not a maintenance charger.
Then I would fit them paying particular attention to the battery terminals. Make sure they are clean and all the terminals are fastened up tight.
Do not attempt to crank the engine with any type of booster charger. Only ever attempt to crank over with the cars own batteries.
With good, fully charges batteries the engine should at least crank over. Try using the emergency start procedure where by turn the ignition key fully anti clockwise to engage both batteries.
Fully charged both batteries, cleaned all terminals and hardware- did the emergency procedure with a turn left then right to engage both batteries and there was one long "click" and nothing after.. thinking maybe the starter motor is bad? all other electrical is fine now ( lights, turn signals, wipers etc)
As to your issues, I would double and triple check the starter battery on the right side, as the stater battery gives full voltage at all times to the starter, it is the house battery and certain relays/modules that feed 12 volts from the house battery to the starter solenoid to engage...
Sometimes it takes a while after both batteries being fully charged and recognized for the system to react, you can pull the cap off of the starter relay in the boot on the left side above the house battery to engage the starter.
Thank you! Awesome video, just tried and same effect : (
Right battery fully charged measuring proper- Key was in, relay compressed, just made kind of a loud "click"/"thud" up towards the front hood of the car (i was standing at the boot to compress the relay), no attempt to turn over- just that loud click..
@Bently2004G_T ,
Please clear up your previous comment as to the engine cranking only when hooked up to external power.
Does the engine actually crank with said external power, and where are you hooking up this external power to ?
Can you verify that you actually have voltage at the starter's main feed connection point/post at the firewall/cowl area as shown in my picture, it is the post to the right facing them, the left side post is for the alternator.
As to the clicks, did you hear the parallel switch click on in the boot when you turned the ignition switch to the left for emergency start procedure, as to the click/thud you hear in the front from the starter/starter solenoid, can you describe it better, is it a lite click like at working solenoid, without the starter motor engaging, or is it a heavy thud like the solenoid and starter motor engaging as they should, but the engine fails to turn, if you have ever experienced the issues of a failed starter versus a seized engine, you would know the difference, so, that brings us back to, has this engine actually ever turned over while in your possession ?
If there is no power at the starter motor main feed post at the cowl, I would be checking that the pyrotechnic device is intact and allowing power to flow at the starter battery.
Sorry for the delay here- did go through and clean up some corroded grounds and cable connectors. It is a heavy thud like the solenoid and starter motor engaging as they should, but the engine dose not turn over. When I first found the vehicle I visited the individual who was selling it approximately 6-7 months ago and went out to take a look, the engine would crank slightly and die (which naively I summed up to the batteries). He decided not to sell the vehicle until recently (call it a month ago) when I drove out and towed it back and started down this journey.
I had a buddy mention to check the oil pan for signs of metal debris to help determine if there are engine issues and unfortunately after dropping the oil pan there is a relatively substantial amount of metal shavings mixed in :-( thinking now of cutting further investigation and looking to replace the motor? (big jump, I know) but with the presence of the shavings, thinking it may be best? Far cry from the electrical problems I jumped to!
@Bently2004G_T ,
WOW !!!
What does the previous owner have to say...
As I stated above about the starter sound, this is what i was hoping it not to be, because my next advice to you was going to be to pull the intake manifold, all the coils and spark plugs, then try turning the engine over manually by way of the crankshaft pulley, but seeing your oil pan, I feel for you.
Call me if you would.
Johnny
908-507-6357
Last edited by Johnny Hotspur GT; 07-20-2023 at 03:07 PM.
@Bently2004G_T ,
WOW !!!
What does the previous owner have to say...
As I stated above about the starter sound, this is what i was hoping it not to be, because my next advice to you was going to be to pull the intake manifold, all the coils and spark plugs, then try turning the engine over manually by way of the crankshaft pulley, but seeing your oil pan, I feel for you.
Call me if you would.
Johnny
908-507-6357
Previous owner has no comment yet! (shocker).. but he was in a pinch and had to let the car go so.. I will say- everything else is in pretty good shape and I got the car very, very, very cheap ($4500). So even if I have to buy a new engine and go this route, fingers crossed, I am hoping I will still come out around what a similar miles running version would be . I figured it would be an adventure! Was hoping I would get lucky with something semi simple but.. I will certainly give you a call, I see you have COMPLETELY rebuilt your GT! (incredible job and documentation!!) any recommendations on where I may begin the search for an engine? (other than eBay or donor car?, donors unfortunately look very scarce right now)
Last edited by Bently2004G_T; 07-20-2023 at 07:27 PM.
@Bently2004G_T
I have a 04 engine available, 46,000 km / 28,000 documented miles, I have had it stored since August 2014.
We can discuss this on the phone if you want to call tomorrow or the weekend.
As far as the engine failure, the few that I have broken down have all been the number 1 rod journal bearing spun and wiped from oil starvation, one of the parts engine I purchased failed because the owner took it to his friend's shop for an oil change, one of the employees only put 7 quarts of oil in, then left it outside idling, when the owner got in to drive away, the engine was not running, but the ignition was on, so it had stalled, but he restarted it and drove away, he didn't get very far before a rod knock developed, this led to 2 or 3 journals bearings to wipe, it also ended up with piston and wall scoring.
The crankshaft pictured below, is from one where the owner heard it and shut it down quickly, but it still spun the bearing, scored the crankshaft, and scored the rod itself, and turning it blue from the heat.
Johnny
.
Last edited by Johnny Hotspur GT; 07-20-2023 at 08:50 PM.
Thanks Johnny,
Is that a common issue do you think.
Im going to be driving my circuit car ( once built) hard so I wonder if this is a known weak spot or is the failure mostly a case of poor maintenance or just bad luck?
I know the 2008 Speed engine had some internal changes compared to the earlier engines.
06-25-2023 | 03:09 PM
. I figured it would be an adventure! Was hoping I would get lucky with something semi simple but.. I will certainly give you a call, I see you have COMPLETELY rebuilt your GT! (incredible job and documentation!!) any recommendations on where I may begin the search for an engine? (other than eBay or donor car?, donors unfortunately look very scarce right now)
