starter motor
starter motor
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Discussion

gruff500

Original Poster:

207 posts

267 months

Monday 21st February 2005
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Hi everyone,

Currently suffering the ol' no starting when hot problem - diagnosed as a starter motor on its way out. Have been offered a Lucas V8 starter motor (318) - would this fit in my 98' Griff 500?

Many Thanks!

JoolzB

3,549 posts

278 months

Monday 21st February 2005
quotequote all
No idea on the Lucas I'm afraid.

Are you sure the starter is knack'd? Mine suffered the same probs but has now got an additional earth to the block and solenoid booster. I have no idea what fixed the problem as all the mods were done whilst another starter was fitted, I've since re-fitting the original with the mods it now works perfectly.

Ballistic Banana

14,706 posts

296 months

Monday 21st February 2005
quotequote all
your guess is as good as anyones, best bet is to change like for like.
Although I did change mine to a prestolite(see profile) one quite cheaply and that fitted ok on my 96 Griff.
Have done the same as joolz re the earth and also got some heatshield on and it hasnt let me down yet (touches wood)

BB

simon.b

1,230 posts

311 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2005
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Are you sure it is the starter, sorry if its been checked, but if not :-

Get the car up on ramps, stands, whatever and run her up to normal temperature and switch off. Assuming she wont start, crawl underneath with a big screw driver and short across the starter power lead (big red one) to the solenoid (smaller blade connector).

Be careful and expect a few sparks, the red lead is live, but if the starter engages then you have other problems i.e. solenoid supply current or immobiliser.

Mine started misbehaving but it wasn’t until after I’d removed the starter and found it to be OK that I found the problem was elsewhere.

Cheers,

Simon.

seasider

12,728 posts

278 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2005
quotequote all
simon.b said:
crawl underneath with a big screw driver and short across the starter power lead (big red one) to the solenoid (smaller blade connector).
Making sure its not in gear

Bluebottle

3,498 posts

269 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2005
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BB - what did you use as a heatshield on your starter as i think i may by suffering from heat soak with my starter.

Podie

46,649 posts

304 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2005
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Starting was getting lazy on the Chim when it was warm…but it turned out to be the battery.

Turn the headlights on, and start the car - if the lights dim, it's probably[/] your battery.

shpub

8,507 posts

301 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2005
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Bluebottle said:
BB - what did you use as a heatshield on your starter as i think i may by suffering from heat soak with my starter.

Rally Design sell heat shield cloth for about £5. Wrap around and hold in place with wire.

shpub

8,507 posts

301 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2005
quotequote all

simon.b said:
crawl underneath with a big screw driver and short across the starter power lead (big red one) to the solenoid (smaller blade connector).



It is actually safer to use a lead with a croc clip at either end with a fuse in it series so that blows in case of slipping.

One slip and that screwdriver will arc weld to the engine, short out the battery big time and may cause it to explode.
It also makes abit of a mess of the screwdriver...

JoolzB

3,549 posts

278 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2005
quotequote all
Bluebottle said:
BB - what did you use as a heatshield on your starter as i think i may by suffering from heat soak with my starter.

Try mod-wise.com. Done it on mine but I preferred to wrap the sol and motor individually rather than loosely around both, unfortunately if you do this you'll prob have to take it off but it's not that difficult. Thinks it's £30-40 quid.

david beer

3,982 posts

296 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2005
quotequote all
I have removed my shield after the problem came back. Some have fitted a shield and made maters worse ! keeping heat in rather than let it breath. Try a relay, £4 should do it, Halfords sell one with a fuse holder already there. It will not do any harm, thats for sure, bit like a light rewire, leccy window.

gruff500

Original Poster:

207 posts

267 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2005
quotequote all
Gleaming everyone - thanks for the helpful input. I'll put it up on the ramp first and check the connections before replacing the motor.

If anyting interesting happens I'll post it on here!!!

5ltr-chim

635 posts

286 months

Saturday 26th February 2005
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A Lucas starter was fitted to the early V8's and whilst physically will fit - the throw of the gear is wrong as I found out. Later ones used a Bosch unit.

The prestolite unit works ok and is cheaper than the Bosch but will also suffer from heat soak etc in time.

I have run an earth directly back to the battery and it helps but not entirely. Next step for me is the relay mod. Can anyone tell me what rating relay is best ?
(Obviously needs to handle the solenoid current but also not draw to heavy a load itself.)

david beer

3,982 posts

296 months

Sunday 27th February 2005
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Normal automotive relay 35a is fine, the circuit "should" draw 12-13 amps. Its "draw" is 200 milli A, so the wiring can do that !!