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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - Starting problems

This is an intermittent problem with starting. All the warning lights come on but when you turn the key nothing happens except a two tone high pitched alarm sound from under the left hand side of the dash, and eventually after turning the ignition on and off it will start. This is a puzzler, and any help would be appreciated. Cheers.
Andrew Collins

Are sure that isn't the imobiliser, when you have unlocked the car but not turned the ignition on within so many seconds? What is the flashing LED doing when this happens?
Paul Hunt

Hi Paul, thanks for replying. Typically it hasn't done it this week so I haven't been able to check your theory. The only thing I have done differently this week is not put my work bag inthe boot each morning , so maybe you are right and it is to do with the alarm circuit somewhere. I'll keep checking it for a week or so and if it keeps working then revert to putting my bag in the boot. Does that sound stupid?
Andrew Collins

No really, after having read about an MGB always conking out on a particular bridge in Australia, and another car in America not starting after the owner had bought mint choc chip ice-cream but it did if he bought vanilla :o) Stuff in the boot is also known to cause problems where the wiring is not concealed and has been chafed.

When I first had my ZS I used to get that warbling unless I noticed the alarm LED blinking and pressed the unlock button on the fob to cancel it. However I've tried it again a couple of times since your post and it doesn't do it any more!
P Hunt

I don't like mint chic chip ice-cream so it can't be that I don't think, but I'll keep my eye on it and report back:)
Andrew Collins

This thread was discussed between 22/11/2009 and 29/11/2009

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