Starte Motor
Starte Motor
Author
Discussion

Chequred Demon

Original Poster:

508 posts

223 months

Saturday 7th March 2009
quotequote all
My Tuscan still won't start.

I replaced the battery for a Varta type 72, 630 cranking amps and 70/AH, with 5 year warranty at a cost of £69 ex vat and of the shelf from Multicell. It has no side clamp facility but fits the hole a treat. Found the Andersen connector needed attention, but being an early car at least it has one!

The history is the car was reluctant to start about 3 times. After leaving over night on trickle charge it wouldn't start, so I replaced the battery with the above. Now when you turn the key the solenoid clicks and the engine turns about 5mm each time accompanied by an electrical "ozone" smell from the starter side of the engine. The car was running fine before and the water and oil look fine, but will it be worth checking for major engine faults?

The Starter is £152 inc VAT from Racing Green and it looks like there is only one type for all speed six engines? Is this the one to go for?

Is it a pig of a job to fit like everything else?

TIA Cheers!

WhyTwo

1,159 posts

221 months

Saturday 7th March 2009
quotequote all
Might be a silly suggestion but have you stuck it in gear a rocked back and forth? If the starter motor's stuck that might free it

PetrolHeadPete

791 posts

218 months

Chequred Demon

Original Poster:

508 posts

223 months

Saturday 7th March 2009
quotequote all
Thanks guys,

I had a look at the bills that came with the car and the starter motor was replaced just before purchase last May and is less than a year old. It was fitted by London TVR and cost £275??

I have only done 3,000 miles, could it really have got knackered that quickly?

I have pushed the car back n forth in fifth gear and the engine turns but no joy with the starter.

Chequred Demon

Original Poster:

508 posts

223 months

Sunday 8th March 2009
quotequote all
Hi Pete,

Thanks for a great post on the starter motor.

Can you confirm that you remove and replace the starter from the top?

I have a problem with jacking up the car to any great height.

TIA

PetrolHeadPete

791 posts

218 months

Sunday 8th March 2009
quotequote all
correct all done from top
only slightly scary part is undoing the
cap head bolts that hold the starter in
Use wd40 day before and use a good
8mm hex drive on a socket set with long
extension bar...get a good engagement
before you apply umph...if you knacker
the heads I'd dread to think about the
hassle

fat80b

3,229 posts

250 months

Monday 9th March 2009
quotequote all
Chequred Demon said:
I had a look at the bills that came with the car and the starter motor was replaced just before purchase last May and is less than a year old. It was fitted by London TVR and cost £275??
Mine was a similar (if slightly lower) cost when it went last year.
I am told that you can get a BMW diesel starter motor to fit. The cost is about the same.
I took some comfort in thinking that this is something that could go wrong with any car..... smile

Chequred Demon

Original Poster:

508 posts

223 months

Tuesday 10th March 2009
quotequote all
Well the good news is that it does not look like the starter has failed!

I had checked all the positive connections and they looked fine and the starter was indeed new.

After speaking with Racing Green TVR, who were amazingly helpful I might add; they suggested that Starters rarely fail and that the symptoms of the starter turning very slowly would more than likely be caused by the engine earth strap not making a good contact with the chassis.

This was easily tested by using a Heavy Duty Jump Lead attached between the exhaust manifold and the negative post of the battery. Somewhat reluctanctly the starter turned faster and faster until the engine fired - Bingo!

So hopefully replacing the lead will sort it out.

BTW - apparently there are two starters a long 180mm and a short 165mm.


Chequred Demon

Original Poster:

508 posts

223 months

Friday 13th March 2009
quotequote all
Removing the alternator to fit the new earth lead was a pig, so I gave up and I didn't even attempt the other end. These TVRs are not exactly "Mechanic Friendly".

In the end I used a bolt on the A/C bracket/engine and ran the other end of the new earth lead to the top front cross member where a little stud is welded in.

Works fine now!