Weird starting failure

[ohidunno]

Hello all, my griff has been intermittently failing to start. I'm pretty sure that it's not the starter motor as that was replaced last year and I think it is probably alarm/immobiliser related and to that end I'm likely to have Carl Baker perform a full overhaul in the Spring.

But until then....
im not expecting anyone to be able to identify the problem online but occasionally when I try to start the car the starter will try to turn the engine but then will cut out and immediately I hear a high speed whir from under the bonnet. This can last for a few seconds or up to a minute then stops. Afterwards the car normally starts properly but sometimes not at all. So can anyone explain this odd noise which might give me a clue as to what the fault is.

The issue is not heat related by the way.

Not great having a car you can't depend on!

Cheers,
Stu

[GriffLee]

Fan belt slipping?

Starter not disengaging properly?

Faulty battery?

[Colin RedGriff]

From your description it sounds like the pinion isn't engaging properly with the flywheel so the starter is spinning (the whining) without turning the engine. Could be something simple like the motor has got dirty and the pinion is sticking.

[Loubaruch]

I would also check the connections to the starter motor and the engine earth, if there is a poor connection i.e. high resistance it could prevent engagement to the starter ring.

Equally the high resistance could be in the immobiliser.

[RobXjcoupe]

Colin RedGriff said:

From your description it sounds like the pinion isn't engaging properly with the flywheel so the starter is spinning (the whining) without turning the engine. Could be something simple like the motor has got dirty and the pinion is sticking.

I'd agree with this post. Starter motor needs removing and given a good overhaul

[ohidunno]

Hi guys, thanks for the explanations. What you are saying makes sense.

Still could easily be the alarm system but it sounds worthwhile getting a local mechanic to test the operation of the starter and earth connections, while I wait for the Spring.

[ianwayne]

I'd expect it to fail to turn over at all if it was an alarm / immobiliser problem. If the motor engages and it turns over, the starter circuit is not immobilised.