2007 1.8 Manual Verso Cranks But Won't Start - Simple Fix

[JayW]

Embarrassing story - may help others:

Recently contacted dealership after Verso failed to cold start, following owners manual advice when Battery charging, oil pressure and engine warning lights all came on, together.

Had to arrange for own recovery to dealership, as happened at home and only have roadside assistance breakdown insurance.

However, when recovery vehicle arrived, its driver was able to start Verso by partially depressing accelerator while performing standard start procedure. Subsequently, engine started as normal using only clutch and start button, without the need to depress accelerator. No recovery to dealership required.

Explanation: (somehow) injection system was flooded with excess fuel that was preventing start-up. Partially depressing accelerator drains excess fuel, allowing engine to start (in large blue cloud of smoke!)

Procedure, if problem re-occurs in future:

• switch off engine
• remove key fob
• partially depress and hold accelerator pedal
• re-insert key fob
• engage clutch pedal and press start button, releasing accelerator pedal when engine starts

Why the dealership couldn't have provided this simple advice over the phone, I have no idea.

(One day older. One unnecessary vehicle recovery charge poorer. One day wiser.)

see also TomdeGuerre's "fuse" comment below.

Edited October 23, 2015 by JayW

[TomdeGuerre]

Are you sure you're getting the whole story? Normally when these breakdown guys attend a vehicle which is gassed up / flooded like this the first thing they do is to pull out the fuse for the fuel pump. Then they crank the engine to get rid of the excess fuel in the cylinders, usually holding the accelerator pedal down a bit to catch it when it does eventually fire.

Otherwise, as you correctly say, don't touch the accelerator pedal at all when starting, especially cold starting.

[JayW]

Thanks for the fuse removal tip, Tom. It all adds to the sum of knowledge:)

In fact, in my case, there was no fiddling with fuses, beforehand. We never got as far as even looking under the hood. The guy literally reached his foot through the open driver's door to depress the accelerator pedal, as I sat at the wheel to turn over the engine in order to demonstrate the problem, and "boom" the engine fired. I felt like a complete fool, for not thinking to try such a simple thing for myself!