Discussion
Hello
I know this topic has been covered many times, but...
I drove the S all friday evening (lovely weather in holland, very hot).. great fun as usuall.. but when I stopped for some fuel and turned the engine off.. it wouldn't start again. The starter motor just does nothing.
I first tried the wiring under the steering column (I allready had a melted connector, so checked that first). But all other electrical stuff worked okay, so no wiring problem.
Then I checked the fuses. Couldnt discover any blown ones.. When I turn the ignition, I can hear a click, but starter motor is still dead.
After a few minutes of messing around, I try again and the engine starts.
Foolish as I am, I drive to a friend of mine (thinking it was probably a loose fuse or something). When I leave, the same problem occurs. Only this time it won't start permanently. We push the car, put it in 2nd and it starts... When I'm home, after I switch it off, it won't start again.
Now I suppose I've ruled out the sticky starter motor, because I've bump started it..
Any ideas on where to look?
much appreciated!
cheers
Niels
S1
Netherlands
I know this topic has been covered many times, but...
I drove the S all friday evening (lovely weather in holland, very hot).. great fun as usuall.. but when I stopped for some fuel and turned the engine off.. it wouldn't start again. The starter motor just does nothing.
I first tried the wiring under the steering column (I allready had a melted connector, so checked that first). But all other electrical stuff worked okay, so no wiring problem.
Then I checked the fuses. Couldnt discover any blown ones.. When I turn the ignition, I can hear a click, but starter motor is still dead.
After a few minutes of messing around, I try again and the engine starts.
Foolish as I am, I drive to a friend of mine (thinking it was probably a loose fuse or something). When I leave, the same problem occurs. Only this time it won't start permanently. We push the car, put it in 2nd and it starts... When I'm home, after I switch it off, it won't start again.
Now I suppose I've ruled out the sticky starter motor, because I've bump started it..
Any ideas on where to look?
much appreciated!
cheers
Niels
S1
Netherlands
Hi Niels
Have a look at this thread it might give you some pointers.
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=181424&f=11&h=0
It sounds very similar to the problem I was having which in the end was down to the main positive feed to the starter motor and the main battery to chassis link. They were OK but there was just too much resistance in them combined.
Good luck
Colin
Have a look at this thread it might give you some pointers.
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=181424&f=11&h=0
It sounds very similar to the problem I was having which in the end was down to the main positive feed to the starter motor and the main battery to chassis link. They were OK but there was just too much resistance in them combined.
Good luck
Colin
Hi guys
Had a look at it yesterday evening. Before I opened the bonnet or dove under the car, I tried the ignition first.. and.. it started, Immediately. Startermotor sounds okay too.
this is pretty weird right ??
Could it somehow have something to do with the temperature. When it broke down friday evening, it was pretty hot outside and I had a long drive.
Collin, did you experience the same thing ?
Had a look at it yesterday evening. Before I opened the bonnet or dove under the car, I tried the ignition first.. and.. it started, Immediately. Startermotor sounds okay too.
this is pretty weird right ??
Could it somehow have something to do with the temperature. When it broke down friday evening, it was pretty hot outside and I had a long drive.
Collin, did you experience the same thing ?
Yes when it was hot after a run that is when the problem first started. However it got to the point where it didn't matter if it was cold or hot.
I think the main live feed for the starter motor must get hot from the exhaust manifold and that somehow increases the resistance to the point where it is too much. On mine the two end terminals had definitely seen better days.
Colin
I think the main live feed for the starter motor must get hot from the exhaust manifold and that somehow increases the resistance to the point where it is too much. On mine the two end terminals had definitely seen better days.
Colin
Yep - I have this problem too.
Regarding resistance - if it is a "bad earth" as this suggests - these do get worse as the temperature increases since resistance is a function of temperature for most materials including shabby earthing straps and so on.
Normally you can rule out the earthing strap by running a jump lead from the -ve battery terminal to somewhere on the block. But one of the other nasty effects of bad earths is that they can cause carbon deposits to build up on the contacts in electrical motors (I've seen this is particular on windscreen wiper motors). This stops them working at all (regardless of temperature) - and in the case of starter motors - you end up getting yet another reconditioned starter.
All very annoying.
Regarding resistance - if it is a "bad earth" as this suggests - these do get worse as the temperature increases since resistance is a function of temperature for most materials including shabby earthing straps and so on.
Normally you can rule out the earthing strap by running a jump lead from the -ve battery terminal to somewhere on the block. But one of the other nasty effects of bad earths is that they can cause carbon deposits to build up on the contacts in electrical motors (I've seen this is particular on windscreen wiper motors). This stops them working at all (regardless of temperature) - and in the case of starter motors - you end up getting yet another reconditioned starter.
All very annoying.
niels said:
Hi guys
Had a look at it yesterday evening. Before I opened the bonnet or dove under the car, I tried the ignition first.. and.. it started, Immediately. Startermotor sounds okay too.
this is pretty weird right ??
Could it somehow have something to do with the temperature. When it broke down friday evening, it was pretty hot outside and I had a long drive.
Collin, did you experience the same thing ?
I drove the S yesterday evening. Drove to the gym.. let it rest for a while. and then... dead starter again. Friend of mine said maybe the bendix was dirty and a bit stuck.
Gave the starter relay a slight tap with a stick. And... Bingo!
Now the get the damned thing cleaned sometime...
Cheers!
Niels
S1
Netherlands
Gave the starter relay a slight tap with a stick. And... Bingo!
Now the get the damned thing cleaned sometime...
Cheers!
Niels
S1
Netherlands
niels said:
Now the get the damned thing cleaned sometime...
Carefull when you clean it.
Clean it with something like petrol but dont use oil or grease on it (especially the bendix). Use a graphite powder (same as for door locks). If you use oil or grease it will collect dirt and carbon from the brushes and start sticking again.
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