Check Engine Light On, No Codes, No Start Options

[fernblatt]

I have a 2006 Canadian Cabrio CDI with about 60k Km on the odometer -


While running errands a couple days ago - on a nice chilly rainy day - I hop into my car and notice it doesn't want to turn over. Just a "click" from the SAM, no starter.

Noticed the CHECK ENGINE light is on. Used a ScanGaugeII to find what trouble code may have caused this -- THERE ARE NO TROUBLE CODES STORED. Was at an auto parts store and they loaned me two other types of generic code scanners.
I even called smart Canada, who forwarded me to a dealer in BC (it was late in the day...) and this is not a problem they had ever come across.


Troubleshooting, I found - battery is good, battery cables good, doesn't drop at all in voltage when turning the key to the start position. All other systems appear to function normally. Disconnecting the battery overnight and trying again did not resolve the problem.


Anyone else heard of this particular problem? Surely my starter solenoid hasn't suddenly died - even if it has, that doesn't explain the check engine light.

ummm, help?


[EDIT: disconnecting the battery for several day seemed to have cleared the problem. But it is still going on, intermittant, and doesn't always need to battery cable pulled. Wish I had a service manual or diagram to troubleshoot with.]

This post has been edited by fernblatt: Mar 7 2010 - 12:06 PM