Hi all. My 2004 XT has been layed up for a while. Battery is trickle charged. When I went to it to give it a run it cranked over but would not start. Checked plug and sparking seemingly ok. No error messages but engine management light comes on during cranking. Any ideas anyone ? Thanks

New Battery time. It may hold a charge but not have enough power/amps to turn the heavy single over.

If it's cranking over, then it won't be the battery.

When you say the engine management light is on when cranking, is it flashing or on steady, and if steady does the temperature warning light also show at the same time?

Is the fuel pump priming when the ignition is turned on? Have you checked the fuses?

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Its possible that the battery has enough power to turn the engine but not fast enough to start it.. are you getting a spark at the plug and if so is it nice n healthy?..ie a nice fat spark that cracks and can jump 2-3 mm?

Is it the original battery?

I have spent hours trying to sort a non starting ccmr30 and ttr 600 only to replace the battery as a last resort and cured the issue.

I have checked the fuses and no its not the original battery, this ones about 5 yrs old but been on a Accumate charger all its life. When cranking the engine management light is steady on not flashing and temperature light is off. Spark is maybe a little weak so it does sound as though battery maybe past its best. It will try to jump it over the weekend and see if that does it.

Does the starter relay click at all?..bit of a crude test BUT try bridging the starter relay terminals with an insulated screwdriver...you have been warned.

Old Skool testing..

The engine management light showing when cranking just signifies that there are old error codes registered in the history. I shouldn't read too much into this. Basically it means that you need to clear the old codes. We can walk you through how to do this later.

If the temperature warning light shows along with the engine management light while cranking it signifies low cranking voltage. As yours is not showing the battery is delivering a sufficient voltage under cranking load as far as the ECU is concerned.

How do you know your spark is weak? Did you test the plug? How old is your spark plug and is the gap OK?

Have you actually tested the battery voltage with a multimeter, both ignition off, ignition on and while cranking? This will give you a pretty definitive answer as to what your battery is like before you go jump-starting it.

Also, you didn't answer the question about whether you can hear the fuel pump priming when you turn the ignition on? Does the plug smell of fuel after cranking and attempts at starting? How old is the fuel? If its been laid up 'a while' the fuel may have gone off. Modern part-ethanol (E5/E10) fuels go bad very quickly turning acidic and corrosive in the tank. How long is 'a while'?

Cranking and a spark is all you need, as far as the ignition is concerned, to get something to happen. Even if its all a bit weak, you should at least register the engine attempting to catch, stumble or do something unless you have a fuel problem (which I suspect may be the case).

Do the following in order:

1. Check the battery voltage(s)
2. Check the spark plug and gap
3. Refresh the fuel if you don't know it's age/origin
4. Check to see if the fuel pump is priming
5. Smell the spark plug after a starting attempt

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Thanks for that. I have checked voltage and OCV is 12.5v. I cannot heard any priming pump when ignition is turned on. Petrol is quite old but has been treated previously with forte petrol additive some time ago, so I think it's probably had it. I will drain and replace and see if that does it. Will check plug as well. Thanks for the info regarding the management light when cranking. I would be interested to know how to clear any faults codes though if you could spare the time please.