Peugeot 205 starter problems

[timolloyd]

My diesel 205 starts and runs fine, but on a couple of occasions there's been a whirring noise from the starter motor/starter solenoid while the engine is running.

The starter motor gets hot quite quickly and the noise doesn't stop when I turn off the ignition - I have to disconnect the battery to make the noise stop.

I'm guessing the starter motor isn't sticking on, because the car is running.

Any ideas where the noise is coming from?

[trickywoo]

Could be a problem with your bendix gear in the starter.

Strange though that its still getting power when the ignition is off.

I have heard of the wiring not being up to the job of carrying enough current when it gets old. Could be that someone in the past has run new wiring to the starter and not done it correctly.

I'd check the wiring first before going to the trouble / expense of a new / recon starter.

[Old Merc]

When the engine is switched off and you hear the noise,pull off the small wire from the solenoid.
If the noise stops there could be a fault with the ignition switch or relay.

[timolloyd]

Thanks for your suggestions. After further investigation earlier in the week I am ashamed to say it looks like nothing more than a loose connection where the (excitor?) cable connects with the alternator.