Sticky starter

[york33]

Evening all

So then, who is feeling kind enough to give me a list of the usual things that would cause a sticking starter motor?

It's a reasonably new one, so am assuming it's ok and the prob lies with the wiring, argh! Question is where, what might cause it? Sometimes it'll turn over nice and speedily, other times only the click of a dodgy starter solenoid is heard. Now I'm fairly sure I gave the connection a clean before connecting this one up and the engine earth braid has been cleaned+replaced.

Any clues please as I know one of these times it's not gonna work.........

thankyou all
Dave

[broadside]

Hi Dave,

My old 280 suffered with the same problem, and I could not diagnose the cause. However, after changing the battery, it never occured again. It used to mainly occur when the engine was hot, as the starter was very close to the exhaust.

I don't know if this will help or not.

Regards

Nige' 450SE

[tallbloke]

Don't know the cause but until you suss it out, always carry a

[AM400]

I had a similar problem on my 400, it was down to the wiring at the starter motor end, on close inspection some of the sleave had melted away and the weather had got to the core leaving about 4 stands still connected! new length of wire with some heat shielding sorted it.

Andy

[jmorgan]

I had a HR contact from the battery terminal at the solenoid. Battery disconnected I measured 50ohms at the threaded post and 0 ohms at the cable crimp connector. It was enough to get the occasional click. Good clean up and re tighten.

[york33]

Cheers people, by the sounds of it, I'll try cleaning contacts and if that fails, will try and run a new feed to it....

It's always good to have a list of things to go through for these things. Though it is raining again so I might have to go to pub instead

thanks again
Dave

[york33]

Ok ok, I admit it, I went for a drive instead. But she's definitely getting worse for doing it, so am gonna have to fix her soon, or always park on a hill

Ah yes, strange, noise from the rear wheels appeared after a thoroughly irresponsible burst of acceleration. Ooops, suppose I'll have to look at that too, ah well, c'est la vie

[SEvans]

I wouldn’t assume that the new starter is OK. I had the same problem and had 3 new (reconditioned) starters until I got a good one. After I replaced the second I thought it can’t be the starter yet again and replaced the battery and wiring, only to find out later it WAS the starter again. All this happened when I had the original 2L Pinto engine.
Now I have the Cosworth engine, with all new wiring and battery, but with second hand starter motor, it’s got the same problem!!!! Not had chance to look at it yet, but I suspect the starter motor again.

[york33]

thanks for the replies people

I eventually got round to having a look, checked and cleaned all wiring and connections, still no joy. Changed the starter again today, only around 9months since I last did and the problem is solved. Hopefully for a bit longer this time, I hopes so as it's expensive and a PITA.........

cheers
Dave

[redcar]

Mine sticks when engine hot, leave to cool for 10 minutes and its fine.
Im told that it is the slider in the solenoid sticking due to expansion of dissimilar metals.
I believe the answer is to remove solenoid and strip it down, inside there is a brass piston type plunger,which is part of the engage mechanism, that should be a free sliding fit, you can rub it with emery cloth to reduce diameter very slightly, rebuild it and Im told it will work fine in hot surroundings.
Not tryed it yet on mine but it sounds possible.

[york33]

I'm certainly going to have a look at the old one and see if I can figure out what's up. Though mine did it regardless of temp, eventually wouldn't start at all. No surcharge for this last starter so doesn't matter if my precision engineering (big hammer) breaks it in the process

Not entirely sure what's involved in rebuilding one, but I'll look out for that bit you mention too....

cheers
Dave

[Gerry Attrick]

Make sure there's no grease or oil on the shaft. It should slide freely without. If you have grease on it, dirt will stick and inhibit movement - or is this granny and eggs ?!?!?

[york33]

Nope, all advice appreciated, thankyou I've never bothered stripping them down in the past so not a clue what to do to rejuvenate them. But if they persist in breaking once a year then I think I'll have too!

thanks
Dave

[adam quantrill]

On some of them there is a rubber nipple that you can
press in, and this engages the dog gear and may
cause the solenoid contacts to make if you press
hard enough (so don't do it on from axle stands
when in gear!!!).

If you jap it a few times it might free up the mechanism.

If this is the case then you can try squirting in some
WD40 or grease and jabbing it a bit more.

I must say that I put Copaslip into mine (which
was possibly a bad idea - it's 'sposed to be abrasive)
about 4 years ago, and it hasn't jammed since.

[sevans]

Maybe the heat is causing a problem. Would it be worth installing some sort of heat shield?

[sevans]

Maybe the heat is causing a problem. Would it be worth installing some sort of heat shield?

[sevans]

Maybe the heat is causing a problem. Would it be worth installing some sort of heat shield?

[grahamw48]

Actually I think it's a good idea to take these malfuntioning bits apart yourself before binning them.
I've always done that, and it's a great way to learn how they work, and you may fix the thing into the bargain.
Most starters or solenoids, etc work on similar principles, so you know where to look for trouble next time.
Also a good way to learn your gudgeon pins from your big ends - get an old engine and strip it

Because of my tight-fisted Yorkshire nature I'll always have a go myself, if I consider the article beyond (economic) repair.
I've successfully fixed supposedly knacked fridges, washers, vacuums, computers, etc ,etc, none of which I previously knew anything about.
My favourite was the Akai tape deck which packed up,
whereupon, in my usual fashion, I opened it up to reveal a slack rubber drive belt.
This insignificent piece of rubber was going to have to be shipped from Japan, and upon arrival after about 6 months would then cost me something like thirty quid !
Huh, I spied a similar sized common or garden brown laggy band in my 'bits and pieces' drawer, fitted it, and to this day (6 years later) the machine functions perfectly.

>> Edited by grahamw48 on Monday 8th November 23:48

[HeyAndy]

Had the same problem after my car was left unused for a while. I put it down to dodgy connections, poor wiring etc. Once the starter got a tap it was ok.

[grady]

HeyAndy said:

Had the same problem after my car was left unused for a while.

I was worried for a moment... afraid you were going to say you used a rubber belt from an old tape deck and it ran just fine