Shorted the starter motor.

[Gingerbread Man]

I spent this evening fitting a new exhaust. After fitting, turned the key to find it wouldn't start.

I had to unplug the lambda sensor, but this seems fine and is now back in. How would a damaged one of these show it's head?

While fitting the primaries, one fell off it's mounting and shorted the starter motor for a short time while I grabbed it again after sparks. Would this have buggered the starter motor or similar? If so, can I tell with a meter or similar?

I can bump start the car and drive it, so the ECU and fuses seem intact.

My mechanical ventures always seem to take longer than most!

[stevieturbo]

Gingerbread Man said:

I spent this evening fitting a new exhaust. After fitting, turned the key to find it wouldn't start.

I had to unplug the lambda sensor, but this seems fine and is now back in. How would a damaged one of these show it's head?

While fitting the primaries, one fell off it's mounting and shorted the starter motor for a short time while I grabbed it again after sparks. Would this have buggered the starter motor or similar? If so, can I tell with a meter or similar?

I can bump start the car and drive it, so the ECU and fuses seem intact.

My mechanical ventures always seem to take longer than most!

Unfortunately saying the car wont start is very non-descriptive so difficult to help.

So what actually happens when you turn the key ?

[Gingerbread Man]

Sorry chap.

Turn key, fuel pump primes, ignition ready. Turn to start engine, solenoid clicks but no go.

Then, after bump starting the car and having a run up and down the road. Few hundred meters at most. Tried with the key again, but this time it sounds as if the starter is at least trying. Badly described I know, sorry!

I know the dead battery, can't quite turn over situation, but it's not that. Just wondered what could be damaged from the short. Could it take a lot out of a battery if it's not in good health?

[stevieturbo]

Gingerbread Man said:

Sorry chap.

Turn key, fuel pump primes, ignition ready. Turn to start engine, solenoid clicks but no go.

Then, after bump starting the car and having a run up and down the road. Few hundred meters at most. Tried with the key again, but this time it sounds as if the starter is at least trying. Badly described I know, sorry!

I know the dead battery, can't quite turn over situation, but it's not that. Just wondered what could be damaged from the short. Could it take a lot out of a battery if it's not in good health?

If the solenoid is clicking, then that aspect is working.

Is the power feed from battery to starter sound ? Is the battery in good working order ? If you really did short it out badly, you could have fried some wiring, or maybe the battery is just toast.

Without knowing exactly what you shorted though, it's difficult.

And solenoid clicking and nothing happening does sound like a flat battery, or as stated broken power supply from battery-starter

[Steve_D]

In the course of the work you were doing did you remove or disturb the engine earth cable?
Engine and gearbox earth cables often share their fixings with exhaust mounting brackets.

Flashing something across the starter terminals is very unlikely to have damaged the starter and the fact you are hearing the solenoid click shows the drive circuit is working.

Steve

[DrDeAtH]

make sure the connections to the starter are clean and tightened securely. Also the same applies to the engine earth strap and battery cables.

[Gingerbread Man]

Tried a jump start off another car today. Car started fine. I think the shorting of my battery was too much of a shock to it. It's 7 years old anyhow.