Intermitent starter fault

[LJM]

All,

I have an intermitent fault with my noble, sometimes when i try to start the car when it is warm nothing happens. Not even a click from the starer motor. All my ignition lights etc come on. It will eventually start by turning the key a number of times. Tonight it took about 10 mins of switching off and on

My guess is I have a faulty starter motor relay, however I havn't a clue where to find it!! Is it somewhere in the engine bay as it only happens when it is warm???

As you can imagine this can get quite embarrising, especially with all the attention the car gets when parked up!!

I would be most gratefull for any advice,

Lloyd

[joust]

Not sure if it is a relay as you say the ignition is fine. Relay C is the ignition one, top row, third in from left. You can try swapping it with aonther one that is the same to see if that cures.

As you say there isn't a 'click' or 'clunk' which means no feed is getting to the starter solenoid. The solenoid is the thing 'piggybacking' on the main starter. If changing the ignition relay doesn't fix it then perhaps it's a faulty ignition switch?

Do you have the starter button? That would be one way to discount the ignition switch.

Finally, the solenoid should have a very fat power cable going to it and the starter motor, and a smaller wire. Just check that that smaller wire hasn't corroded.

J

Edited by joust on Thursday 7th September 08:06

[LJM]

Thanks Joust, I have the starter button which also will not start it. I will check the connections on the starter motor. The reason I asked about a relay in the engine bay is because a while back i blew the fuse for the starter motor when charging the battery and when trying to start there was a very quiet clicking noise coming from the ecu area.

Regards,

Lloyd

[joust]

???

AFAIK the starter motor feed isn't fused.

Err - Trevor, help!

J

[paulcundy]

joust said:

???

AFAIK the starter motor feed isn't fused.

Err - Trevor, help!

J

Dear All,
Shouldn't the factory be answering these questions? They do monitor PH don't they?
Regards
Paul C

[adrian w]

short out the two studs on the starter solnoid with a screwdriver(carefull not to short against the fuel tank)if the engine cranks it's proberbly the swith or the switchwire as Justin said earlier.

[paulcundy]

paulcundy said:

joust said:

???

AFAIK the starter motor feed isn't fused.

Err - Trevor, help!

J

Dear All,
Shouldn't the factory be answering these questions? They do monitor PH don't they?
Regards
Paul C

[m12_nathan]

I had this - took a motor electrician a day to sort (at Nobles expense) was a loose connection somewhere or a dry joint in the fuse box IIRC. (can't remember which was which between the not starting and all lights turning off when I tried to use full beam).

I regularly used to have to bump start the car because of this.

[LJM]

Thanks very much for your replys, i have checked the relay which was fine. FYI it is above the ECU bolted behind the drivers seat, and is the second in from the left (thanks to richard @ Vegantune). I have taken it to an auto-electrician who had a quick look. He found I was not getting the 12v switch supply to the starter solenoid. But wants it in for further inveatigation.

I have however found a way around the problem. if i turn the key through all three positions very quickly it will not fail to fire, Hence it always starting when i get annoyed. The easiest way is to hold the starter button in when turing the ignition on.

This makes me think that some sort of contact/relay is not holding closed!

Thanks again,
Lloyd

[joust]

Or could just be the barrel contacts in the key....

J

[LJM]

joust said:

Or could just be the barrel contacts in the key....

J

Did think this but if i press the start button after turning the ignition on it won't start either!! I am going to wait as it is due a service anyway.

[joust]

I have a feeling the start button is fed off the main switch, but I've not got a wiring diagram so can't be sure.

Wouldn't harm to squirt a bit of switch cleaner (WD40 if you really can't find any proper stuff) into the barrel to see if that helps?

J

[gadgeroonie]

sometimes if the starter motor gets heat soaked it doesn't want to turn

might be worth getting some heat wrap wound around it

or tapping it with a hammer or a block of wood can give a faulty starter a jolt and get it going

give it a tap next time its playing up - see if it helps

Edited by gadgeroonie on Saturday 9th September 23:28