Hello!

Trying to get my friends Ds420 to start. It has an automatic gearbox and is from the later half of the 80:s (87?!), can't remember at the moment. It's a right hand drive and when turning the key nothing happens besides two relays click. One behind the dash some where on the right of the steering wheel and another somewhere to far to the left behind the dash or maybe in the engine bay. When trying to crank I have either park or neutral in gear while pressning down on the brake. Further than this I haven't troubleshot.

The thing is that with fuel injected cars I know a bit. With the carburated cars I know almost nothing so some tips would be much appreciated. Where to start? What does car "want" to start? Usual things that fail and should be checked?

/Dave from Sweden
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On the DS420 there is no brake interlock, so no need to hold the brake. If it doesn't crank the first place is to check the battery, both the battery voltage and capacity itself, and then check the cables to the battery. Are the terminals clean and tight?

If there is a relay click that says the ignition switch is working, my bet is a weak battery.

 

Once checked battery. Check earth straps. Take a stout jumper lead direct from battery to starter solenoid. If no reaction you know whether starter solenoid/motor is healthy or not. Should help you isolate fault.

 

I presume the engine is not frozen so check it rotates with the plugs out and a spanner on the crank pulley nut. As stated above check the starter motor is not frozen by putting a jumper lead straight on to the power terminal on the starter.
If both these rotate freely then look at earth cables and earth points on the body are not corroded.

 

Found and fixed the problem. Actually two problems. The position of the microswitch (inhibit switch) at the shifter needed adjusting as it did not engage every time. Second problem was the relay that is grounded by the microswitch. It was dead.
/D

 

This may be your not in park microswitch. Just out of desperation, you can take the shifter and rapidly cycle it in and out of the park position.This will jostle the microswitch in case it is just sticking. I have made mine work this way in the past.