Jet washed my engine and the starter motor just clicks...
Discussion
Oops!
As the vehicle in question is my 20 year old, very simple, diesel Land Rover Discovery which has regularly forded in water over the bonnet, I thought the engine bay would put up with a bid of de-mudding at the hands of my jet wash. But no...
Now the starter motor just makes a a rapid clicking noise as is the solenoid is stuck. The engine bump starts fine...and I was hoping that a bit of a run with some wind blowing round the engine bay and some heat off the exhaust but no joy...still clicking.
I've tried t
tting the starter motor with a hammer...no joy. Any ideas? Or shall I just leave it for a few days to dry out...I don't need to drive it as it's a spare car.
Thanks!
As the vehicle in question is my 20 year old, very simple, diesel Land Rover Discovery which has regularly forded in water over the bonnet, I thought the engine bay would put up with a bid of de-mudding at the hands of my jet wash. But no...
Now the starter motor just makes a a rapid clicking noise as is the solenoid is stuck. The engine bump starts fine...and I was hoping that a bit of a run with some wind blowing round the engine bay and some heat off the exhaust but no joy...still clicking.
I've tried t
tting the starter motor with a hammer...no joy. Any ideas? Or shall I just leave it for a few days to dry out...I don't need to drive it as it's a spare car. Thanks!
I would completely cover the starter in WD40 as it's a water replant and will work its way into the starter and drive out any moisture. Whilst under the bonnet I would spray anything electrical you can see with WD40 also. I think there is another product that does the same in a red aerosol but I can't think what it's called.
Ari said:
This. Sounds like a battery problem rather than a starter motor problem.
Don't think so. I'd just driven it and the battery was fine. And with a flat battery it tends to just click once. This was a very fast, very determined click-click-click ad infinitum. But I'll get busy with the wd40!
You're joking! This is a "tool" Disco that's 20 years old, and is now all shiny thanks to hours of work and an electric polisher! Not to mention crawling round under the bugger changing engine, gearbox and transfer box oil!
Anyway, the good news is that the WD40 has cured it! Witchcraft, I tell thee...
Anyway, the good news is that the WD40 has cured it! Witchcraft, I tell thee...
Hard-Drive said:
Don't think so. I'd just driven it and the battery was fine. And with a flat battery it tends to just click once. This was a very fast, very determined click-click-click ad infinitum.
But I'll get busy with the wd40!
I've seen this before, when there wasn't enough power in the battery to keep the contacts closed. Just a rapid click as the contacts closed then opened again.But I'll get busy with the wd40!
A quick jump-start and all was ok again.
Tim
The Turbonator said:
I fancy giving my engine bay a blast with the jet wash to clean it but I'm too scared I'd end up breaking something.
I've done thousands over the years not yet killed one!? Spray with detergent/ TFR/ degreaser, agitate with a soft brush if need be and then rinse off, not getting too close and steering well clear of the ECU's etc.
The mistake a lot of people make is to try and blast the dirt/ grease off with a pressure washer. The pressure washer should only be used to rinse, the chemicals do the cleaning.
Taz1383 said:
I think I will probably get aids reading any more of these comments. Yeah, power wash the engine, what could possibly go wrong?
On 20 year old Disco? Pretty much the only electrical item required to start the car 
Joking aside keep away from ECUs and fuse boxes and you'll be alright.
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