starter motor solenoid sticks when cold
Discussion
I wondered if anyone out there had experienced this on a pre engaged type starter motor.
When starting from cold, the starter spins up, but will not engage with the flywheel ring gear until numerous attempts to start the engine have been made.
Once the engine has warmed up, and the engine is stopped, and re started it engages without fault every time the key is turned.
I am guessing that the solenoid is sticky or has some clearance issues with its housing when the engine / starter is cold, but this goes away once the engine / starter has warmed up to normal operating temp. Any advice on the best way to check this would be much appreciated.
When starting from cold, the starter spins up, but will not engage with the flywheel ring gear until numerous attempts to start the engine have been made.
Once the engine has warmed up, and the engine is stopped, and re started it engages without fault every time the key is turned.
I am guessing that the solenoid is sticky or has some clearance issues with its housing when the engine / starter is cold, but this goes away once the engine / starter has warmed up to normal operating temp. Any advice on the best way to check this would be much appreciated.
Quite common sign you are describing. Only real way to check is removal of the motor. Usually check connecting to a battery to see if it engages. Most starters can be overhauled easily for as little as £60-90 which generally will replace brushes , clean up.if I remember correctly their are two copper connectors inside that can wear that are also replaced for the solenoid to engage properly Even other components are cheap enough to not replace the whole unit but overhaul it. it happened on my ferrari. last year...pain as it wasn't all the time though . Overhauled for £80 never done it since.
Edited by R36vw on Friday 13th March 23:07
Sorry, I forgot to mention the Starter is only just over a year old, (Alas, Just outside the warranty!) but on my 7, so a car that only really gets used in the summer, where it did not seem to suffer from the problem described above.
The key clue seems to be that once the engine has started, and the engine / starter are warmed, it operates completely normally `every single time' the key is turned, but when everything is cold, I can sit there for ages, with the starter motor repeatedly spinning away on the key, but not engaging with the ring gear, until (for some unknown reason) it decides to push the starter pinion into the ring gear.
The key clue seems to be that once the engine has started, and the engine / starter are warmed, it operates completely normally `every single time' the key is turned, but when everything is cold, I can sit there for ages, with the starter motor repeatedly spinning away on the key, but not engaging with the ring gear, until (for some unknown reason) it decides to push the starter pinion into the ring gear.
Claudia Skies said:
If you have another car as well, use jump leads to connect its battery in parallel with the battery in the faulty car (no engines running) and then try a "cold start". If it starts, battery is your problem.
Thanks to you and the others who have posted a reply. The battery is also fairly new, and fully charged, but I will still give your suggestion a try, because (typical for a Seven) the battery is not a big one, and may not have quite the punch needed to get the solenoid on this particular new starter to do its thing on an every time basis (or as in my case without the help of having a warmed up engine starter assembly). Recharge the battery with a battery charger.
Clean the starter motor.
Try connecting a jump lead from the battery earth terminal to a clean area on the block & see if it makes a difference. If it does it points to an earthing issue.
Check that all wires are in good condition & their connections are good.
Check earth straps are in good condition - esp plastic covered ones as they can corrode away to nothing inside the sheathing.
Clean the starter motor.
Try connecting a jump lead from the battery earth terminal to a clean area on the block & see if it makes a difference. If it does it points to an earthing issue.
Check that all wires are in good condition & their connections are good.
Check earth straps are in good condition - esp plastic covered ones as they can corrode away to nothing inside the sheathing.
littleredrooster said:
moreflaps said:
Bendix gear wear and sticky grease/dirt. Take the starter out and and give it a good clean. If it's spinning it's not the solenoid IMO
Cheers
Haven't seen a bendix on a current car for about twenty years...all pre-engaged now.Cheers
HTH
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