That Starter Motor Problem!

[powelly]

Looks like I'll need to get this sorted, engine stalled on me (or I stalled the engine...) at a 3 lane set of lights near Bagshot, rush hour Friday night - guess what! Deeply embarrasing, loads of white van man abuse and a 38ton Waitrose artic 2 inches from my wing mirror (thanks mate, not sure what your point was exactly ....) .

Do I bother with trying to shield the starter or go for a new one? And rough prices if anyone knows...

Highly amusing though, let's hope she goes OK tomorrow to C. Combe...

[david beer]

Iam not sure of the actual "cures" by fittng the shield, maybe 60/40 success.I think it depends on the damage already done. But its got to be worth a try. After all if it does not cure it you still should fit one to stop it happening to your new starter.

[sipow]

This hapens to me occasionly and have invested in one of daves heatshields but as david says and i agree i think the damage is already done.

I think its about £230 for anew one and £70 ish for a recon.

Simon

[JulianHJ]

A new starter motor was fitted prior to taking delivery of my '94 Griff last month. It is very slow turning over on occasion, particularly when starting from hot. This weekend the engine stalled 3 times in heavy traffic, and took a bit of patience to get going again.

Is this all to do with the engine getting too hot? At its worst, the temp was reading 105C.

Is shielding the starter motor a common mod? From reading other posts 90C seems average for normal running, is the overheating in traffic just one of those things?

>> Edited by JulianHJ on Monday 24th June 22:19

[david beer]

Questions, questions!
Are your fans coming on and both.
At what temp on the guage do they come on.
Do they stay on for a while or go off quickly
Do you loose water, is it topped up.
Any air locks
Is the guage over reading, what does it show on a cold day at 70mph.
I dont think anbody can say a standard Griff has good cooling, but then again it works.Its just a little hot.
As for the starter problem,how is the starting from cold, ok, ie nice and fast turn over. If its sluggish hows the battery.I believe there are a couple of starters that look the same but have different cranking levels.
Thats me about done, iam sure you will get more tips etc. We have all been here before!

[powelly]

I know David I know... it must be frustrating seeing the same newbie question over and over, but some of us just need to use the board to check it is 'usual'.. you know, the 'they all do that sir'... I guess it's because I've only owned her for 6 months and am not a truly weathered TVR owner yet.

Rest assured, I didn't have rose tinted glasses when I bought a TVR... she's booked into the local specialist to be checked over.

Thanks for your input though.... they're certainly not an exact science..

>> Edited by powelly on Tuesday 25th June 15:37

[david beer]

We all have picked up bits from such threads.Saved thousands of pounds from going to those nice dealers,iam sure. I would be interested in your answers regarding temp readings.Iam a non-heat friek. My griff 500 is well and truly sorted now.

[powelly]

As long as I'm moving, temp stays well in the 75-80 range, but within mins of stopping it goes upto 90 and both fans do kick in... thinking logically about the problem, it may well have something to do with the immiboliser going faulty on me.. anyway, this kind of stuff is beyond my ability, and if I start fiddling I'll end up with a big bill... so I'll leave it to David Batty to sort..

[sipow]

Right i dont know weather this is just a pure flook or what but since putting a smaller front plate on my Griffith i havnt had a problem with it not starting anymore, even though i was recently convinced it was my alarm/immob playing up and not the starter motor.

Simon

[cleg]

I have just got mine back form Joospeed, joolz has had the starter reconditioned, heat wraped the starter, the manifold system and removed the pre cats.

It started ok when fully hot form the petrol station .. which is always the most embarassing place for it not to start so fingers crossed she should be ok now.

[sipow]

Hi Cleg,

Hows it sound with the pre-cats removed.


Simon

[cleg]

There isn't a lot of diff in sound .. I would say it sounds more throaty mid revs, like a deaper resinent (or how ever u spell it) sound .. and it now pops when u let off after reving it .. which it didn't do before and I like it

it seems a small tad more responsive mid range too



>> Edited by cleg on Saturday 20th July 18:09

[Toffer]

The risk of overheating problems can be minimise by fitting a Thermostatic fan switch with the temperature range 82/92 degrees. Your fans will run more often. To reduce heat soak when you park the car in the garage...just open the bonnet with the fans running and only turn off the engine once the fans stop. Make sure the garage is well ventilated!

[Ballistic Banana]

quote:
I have just got mine back form Joospeed, joolz has had the starter reconditioned, heat wraped the starter, the manifold system and removed the pre cats.

It started ok when fully hot form the petrol station .. which is always the most embarassing place for it not to start so fingers crossed she should be ok now.

Cleg how much was the recon starter . think mine needs doing.

Simon

[cleg]

Joolz at joospeed had it on part of the bill as about £45 .. the starter is also quieter too.

Joolz may have given me a discount for other work I have done for him .. so give him a call if ur interested

[Ballistic Banana]

Cheers Chris,

I will try and contact him 2morrow.



Simon