Starter motor wierdness
Discussion
(I've posted this in general tvr since I guess either griff or chim owners may be able to help)
Before everyone yawns, this isn't the warm-start starter moment problem.
I returned to my Griffith in my garage after 2 weeks holiday, went to start it, and all I got was click-click. I presume this is the solenoid, and assumed that the battery was dead because I don't have a conditioner.
However after about 4 attempts it started!
Now when I try and start it, sometimes it starts first time, sometimes I'll get 3 or 4 click-onlys before it starts. I'm assuming that at some point it'll reduce to click-only and leave me stranded.
Anyone else had this? I suspect it can't be the battery as it'd never start (even though it was left for a fortnight and would be the most likely thing). Am I looking at a new starter motor or is there some home-servicing I could do?
Before everyone yawns, this isn't the warm-start starter moment problem.
I returned to my Griffith in my garage after 2 weeks holiday, went to start it, and all I got was click-click. I presume this is the solenoid, and assumed that the battery was dead because I don't have a conditioner.
However after about 4 attempts it started!
Now when I try and start it, sometimes it starts first time, sometimes I'll get 3 or 4 click-onlys before it starts. I'm assuming that at some point it'll reduce to click-only and leave me stranded.
Anyone else had this? I suspect it can't be the battery as it'd never start (even though it was left for a fortnight and would be the most likely thing). Am I looking at a new starter motor or is there some home-servicing I could do?
barreti said:
have you checked all the battery and starter motor connections are tight and you have a good earth point. My landie was once doing exactly what you describe and it was just a loose connection.
Haven't tried anything yet, so I'll give it a go for free.
In the event of it being a faulty starter motor what can I expect to pay for a replacement?
gingerprince said:
have you checked all the battery and starter motor connections are tight and you have a good earth point. My landie was once doing exactly what you describe and it was just a loose connection.
Haven't tried anything yet, so I'll give it a go for free.
In the event of it being a faulty starter motor what can I expect to pay for a replacement?
You're probably just about getting enough power to the starter. Should cost about a tank full of Optimax to get the battery charged to a decent level.....
Doesn't sound like a problem with the starter IMHO.
_DeeJay_ said:
You're probably just about getting enough power to the starter. Should cost about a tank full of Optimax to get the battery charged to a decent level.....
Doesn't sound like a problem with the starter IMHO.
Hmm not sure, it doesn't really turn over slowly when it does turn, which I would expect as a symptom of low battery.
Thought I will be "charging" it quite heavily this weekend so we'll see how it goes
gingerprince,
I had this on my old Griff. What happened for me was that the engine proximity cooked the starter to the point where the solenoid would stick. I always found that if you taped the started with a large heavy object (wheel wrench) it would always just start right up on the next turn of the key. In the end I just replaced the starter.
PS: The replacing of the starter on the griff is not that difficult if you have a set of ramps and a good socket set. Or in my case a good friend with a set of ramps and a good socket set
Hope this is of some help.
Lake
I had this on my old Griff. What happened for me was that the engine proximity cooked the starter to the point where the solenoid would stick. I always found that if you taped the started with a large heavy object (wheel wrench) it would always just start right up on the next turn of the key. In the end I just replaced the starter.
PS: The replacing of the starter on the griff is not that difficult if you have a set of ramps and a good socket set. Or in my case a good friend with a set of ramps and a good socket set
Hope this is of some help.
Lake
Well, strange as it seems, the symptoms now appear to have gone away, so I can only assume that it was the battery.
Strange really because I would generally associate a dying battery with slow-turnover, rather than no turnover then suddenly enough to start it!
Ah well, cheers all!
Sy
Strange really because I would generally associate a dying battery with slow-turnover, rather than no turnover then suddenly enough to start it!
Ah well, cheers all!
Sy
gingerprince said:
Well, strange as it seems, the symptoms now appear to have gone away, so I can only assume that it was the battery.
Strange really because I would generally associate a dying battery with slow-turnover, rather than no turnover then suddenly enough to start it!
Ah well, cheers all!
Sy
Do I get a prize? The Ducati does exactly the same thing when it's not been run for a while...
nope this is definately battery.
basically it need a really good charge for the solenoid to kick the bendix screw out into the flywheel. If it doesn't have enough of a kick it won't engage and you get that happening.
I used to get it in the 300zx during the winter what with short journeys and lights/hifi on all the time.
get an accumate and the problems will disappear.
stu
basically it need a really good charge for the solenoid to kick the bendix screw out into the flywheel. If it doesn't have enough of a kick it won't engage and you get that happening.
I used to get it in the 300zx during the winter what with short journeys and lights/hifi on all the time.
get an accumate and the problems will disappear.
stu
_DeeJay_ said:
Do I get a prize? The Ducati does exactly the same thing when it's not been run for a while...
No, coz it's not actually the battery, unfortunately! It's started happening again even though the car's been in daily use. Took about 30 attempts to start last night :O I figured the battery must not be holding a charge well, so bought and fitted a new one last night (lining those holes up on the battey box is a nightmare job, grrr!). Drove around last night. This morning, same problem. Took about 5 attempts to start.
Oh well, time to start checking connections I guess!
I had this last weekend. First showed up as a hot start issue then fixed, then occasionally when cold, then always when cold. I lost patience with connection checking and had the starter replaced for £199 all in by Central TVR in Stourbridge - they picked it up on a flatbed for free too, which was nice.
Marco
Marco
suffered the same problem on mine, spent ages checking wiring etc as the starter was ONLY 8 months old so it couldnt be that! As a last resort i took the starter out and did the electrical tests as shown in the Bible, turned out to be a solanoid contacts breaking down internally. I got an original (not reconditioned) starter from Bell Hill for £75 notes and it been perfect ever since
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