Which Starter Motor?

[ChimpOnGas]

I've now got well over five years and counting on my cheap Global Power starter motor.

It's got literally thousands of starts under its belt, in all temperatures, and it continues cranking my engine as strong as the day I fitted it.

Not bad for £62.00..

[Thundersports]

Ptr400J said:

Just in the market for a new starter for my 450, how have you got on with the Global version?

I see it's now £145 plus vat !!

Apologies for the delay I only just spotted the question! It has been great in all conditions very pleased with it.

[Chimp871]

All good lads but where do you get one from?

[ChimpOnGas]

Its just a Range Rover P38/Discovery2 starter motor, only a mug would pay more than £80 or so for one , buy from a Land Rover parts specialist.

Google is your friend

You also need to accept most starting problems on these cars often have little or nothing to do with the starter motor at all.

Don't get me wrong, starters do die and they definitely have a tough life on a TVR because of heat, but it's important to understand the starter cable used by TVR was a feeble string thin thing that was only just adequate for it's length from new, add in a few years of corrosion and it's a shocker. The earth path is also an area of weakness, upgrading this with an additional earth return cable of a suitable gauge (neg battery terminal to engine block) is also highly beneficial.

If the starter motor is getting a little weak, the poor earth return and the woefully inadequate and now likely corroded starter cable only serve to ensure slow cranking or no cranking is inevitable. Now add in a weak battery because most Chimaeras have a parasitic drain of one sort or another, and the situation is even worse, but dont worry if that lot doesn't get you... the immobiliser TVR wired back to front certainly will.

However, address each of these common, accepted and well understood issues individually, and the car will start with devastating reliability. Like all things TVR you need to study what TVR got wrong or skimped on, then make good with correct wiring practices and better quality components.

None of which is difficult to implement, or need cost you a fortune, and lets be 100% clear here, a stupidly priced starter motor is not the answer. Because if my sixty quid special is still starting my Chimaera super efficiently after almost six years of hard use, you are better off saving the money you unnecessarily wasted on that well marketed overpriced starter motor... and spending it on solving all the other elements that need attention in the Chimaera starter circuit.

[Chimp871]

it's doing 1 revolution then slows, then starts to turn again and starts.

I'll change wiring anyway

[Penelope Stoppedit]

900T-R said:

ChimpOnGas said:

Why pay more

In my case, because the original is an 8 kg boat anchor and rather inefficient with it. Changing it for a more modern one is cheap weight loss. Had the Powerlite which indeed turned out to be problematic (I'd give theom one; their response times are superb but there's only so much hassle you can go through and I believe the way it engages points to a basic geometry problem), then went for an axial starter by Brise which so far (fitted about 3 years ago) has been excellent, super smooth and fast turning even, only weighs 2.7 kg (that's a whopping 5.3 kg off) and only takes about half the current of the Lucas boat anchor so I don't have to weigh the car down further with thicker wiring and relays...

However it was expensive back then and when others enquired some time last year, they had upped the price to a £465 - basically they had supply problems and didn't really want to sell off the stock they had... Don't know what is the current situation is like.

You pays yer money... To me, 5.3 kg and the lower current draw were well worth the £265 or so and also the overall finish and quality of the product were more what I had in mind for the project.

5.3 Kg Is a massive weight saving, it would be interesting if someone could calculate the fuel saving and then perhaps those that cover many miles year in year out would be purchasing this light weight starter even though it is going to cost more, there is also the acceleration and top speed to be considered especially when competing

[Chimp871]

Out of interest what length is the starter motor cable?

[ChimpOnGas]

Chimp871 said:

Out of interest what length is the starter motor cable?

It's long.. over 7 foot long to be precise!

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=11...

[Squirrelofwoe]

Just to bump this thread, is this the same as the one discussed earlier in this thread?:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00G6FYQHG/ref...

The part number is STM556 and the pictures are the same- it's destined for a 1995 4.0 Chim.

Thanks in advance!

[Penelope Stopit]

A lightweight Starter Motor looks good to me but the cost needs calculating against savings of fuel

[N7GTX]

Squirrelofwoe said:

Just to bump this thread, is this the same as the one discussed earlier in this thread?:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00G6FYQHG/ref...

The part number is STM556 and the pictures are the same- it's destined for a 1995 4.0 Chim.

Thanks in advance!

Can't help with the starter motor part number. However, you might want to look at Facebook and Google reviews. The company name is in the link. There are not many but some are not suitable for family viewing.

[Squirrelofwoe]

N7GTX said:

Can't help with the starter motor part number. However, you might want to look at Facebook and Google reviews. The company name is in the link. There are not many but some are not suitable for family viewing.

Ah, ta for the heads up!

[ianwayne]

Squirrelofwoe said:

Just to bump this thread, is this the same as the one discussed earlier in this thread?:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00G6FYQHG/ref...

The part number is STM556 and the pictures are the same- it's destined for a 1995 4.0 Chim.

Thanks in advance!

That's exactly the part number of the one I had fitted to my last Chimaera 400. It was fitted in Dec 2014.

This isn't a plug for any specific breaker because some of his parts are frankly, a ludicrous price, but my last car got written off by the next owner and the starter motor from it is up for sale here. You can see the part number on it.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-TVR-Chimaera-1992-...

The car's done 5700 miles and probably over 100 starts since fitting. At the price you found a new one for, with a 12m guarantee, a new one is probably a better purchase.

Edited by ianwayne on Monday 12th February 08:20

[ChimpOnGas]

I bought my Global Power starter years ago off a Land Rover parts specialist in Wymondham Norfolk, the thing still to this day starts my engine as strongly as it did when new.

I'm not sure it that Wymondam Landy parts guy is still in business, but I know this lot in Abingdon, Oxfordshire stock the Global Power brand of starters and alternators so will be worth a call...

http://www.land-rover-parts-shop.com/en/ui/

You'll want their part number NAD101490, they describe the brand as 'AllMakes', but I'd call them to see if they can get you a Global Power one.

http://www.land-rover-parts-shop.com/en/ui/product...

I've been super pleased with my Global Power starter which has given me 6 years of perfect service, and for the £62 I paid I'm not arguing with that .

These people are also Global Power agents...

https://www.brit-car.co.uk/contact

Edited by ChimpOnGas on Monday 12th February 09:51

[Squirrelofwoe]

ChimpOnGas said:

I bought my Global Power starter years ago off a Land Rover parts specialist in Wymondham Norfolk, the thing still to this day starts my engine as strongly as it did when new.

I'm not sure it that Wymondam Landy parts guy is still in business, but I know this lot in Abingdon, Oxfordshire stock the Global Power brand of starters and alternators so will be worth a call...

http://www.land-rover-parts-shop.com/en/ui/

You'll want their part number NAD101490, they describe the brand as 'AllMakes', but I'd call them to see if they can get you a Global Power one.

http://www.land-rover-parts-shop.com/en/ui/product...

I've been super pleased with my Global Power starter which has given me 6 years of perfect service, and for the £62 I paid I'm not arguing with that

Edited by ChimpOnGas on Monday 12th February 09:51

I had no idea there was a Land Rover specialist in Abgindon, we are just around the corner so that is ideal! Will give them a call and see if they can get the Global Power one.

Many thanks!

[ChimpOnGas]

No problem, I've never used them but the address says...

Frogs Island 4x4,
Unit 178, Milton Park,
Abingdon, Oxfordshire,
OX14 4SD.

Tel Steve Pickford on: 01235 832900

Dave.

[jojackson4]

Go in person as there response to emails is diya
Still waiting for a response to the oil pump that didn’t fit

[Squirrelofwoe]

Great, thanks guys. Yeah it's only round the corner, funnily enough it's where my other half's dad gets his Freelander serviced.

First I need to confirm that it's not just a poor connection to the starter, but sadly my old trolley jack wouldn't fit under the car in it's present location so I've invested in a new one from SGS which is being delivered today.

The state of play is:

-Immobiliser unlocks, fuel pump primes, turn key and starter spins either once or twice and then nothing but the solenoid clicking.
-Battery all good (approx 9 months old, hooked up to a CTEK conditioner once a week, fully charged), plus jump starting from my other car made no difference.
-Tried running a jump lead from negative battery terminal to engine block in case of bad earth- made no difference.

Current thoughts are either poor live connection to starter, or starter itself dead. I am wondering if the former is more likely given the starter does spin, even if only once or twice before cutting out- suggesting to me that it's not getting sufficient juice?

[N7GTX]

Check that when cranking, there is battery voltage to the small lead on the motor solenoid. If there is not then a break between the starter section of the ignition switch and the solenoid. If there is a relay between the ignition switch and the solenoid it would need to be checked. A jumper wire could be used to prove/disprove this.

With the car securely raised up and the gear lever in neutral, handbrake firmly on, you could use a thick screwdriver and place it so that you touch both the main contacts on the solenoid. First you must disable the engine from starting. Disconnect one of the small leads from the coil and to stop the engine from flooding, remove the fuel pump relay.
You need to do this test with care - sparks etc. The contacts are shown in the pic with the plastic divider between them. The motor, if it is good will spin as long as you hold the screwdriver in contact. If it does not then you know the motor itself has failed.

[Squirrelofwoe]

Thanks again Iain.

I had my new low profile trolley jack arrive yesterday and I've got the afternoon off work on Friday, so weather permitting I can have a look.

When I have turned the key and the starter has spun once or twice, I've also had interference with the stereo- i.e. it effectively cycles the power/source function each time (off/disk/FM).

I know the electrical systems are a bit spaghetti junction in these cars, but could this be indicative of anything?