Help; starter motor not engaging

[Codswallop]

As per thread title; put key in and twist. All dash lights come on and go off as normal, but starter motor doesn't even click or turn. The fault is intermittent. Sometimes the car starts fine.

Car is a 2004 Seat Arosa 1.0 petrol.

Battery is new. Fuel pump can be heard priming when key is twisted. Battery in key fob seems fine. Car has petrol and works fine once push started.

I tried using my Elm fault code reader but nothing was logged on there.

Does anyone have useful suggestions on which areas to investigate?

Thanks

[Butter Face]

Hit the starter motor with something a couple of times. Might free it up

[JimbobVFR]

On the 70s and 80s it was quite common to carry a hammer to tap the starter motor when this happened. It's just a childhood memory so I don't know if the cause is the same or if it would work.

[A1VDY]

It's the starter solenoid at fault.
Replace the starter motor.

[paintman]

Check & clean battery terminals.
Check earth straps are in good condition - the plastic covering can hide problems, whilst the ends might look fine the covered bit could be corroded away.
Unbolt, clean ends and what they connect to & reatttach battery earth cable from body.
Do the same for the earth straps.

If the car is being used for short journeys with a lot of electrics on then periodically charge with a battery charger.

Edited by paintman on Tuesday 4th February 21:24

[Fleckers]

Start cheap

Charge battery and check all connections are good
Solenoid test and swap
Starter motor swap

Or call AA / RAC etc

[E-bmw]

As above, check all terminals properly, if the battery has just been changed one might not have been done up correctly.

After that it is likely to be the starter.

[tapkaJohnD]

A 2004 Arosa does not have a starter solenoid. At least, not as a seperate switch on the starter cable to the battery

The motor is a modern, high-torque, 'pre-engaged starter', not with the old Bendix drive that could get seized. It will look like this.



The unit will be connected directly to the battery, plus a control wire from the ignition switch. When that is energised, a solenoid in the small cylinder throws the starter pinion at the starter ring on the flywheel, and closes a high current switch that energises the motor itself, to turn the engine.

Under the bonnet, Codswallop, can you hear a click as someone turns the ignition switch? If not then the solenoid is not working to throw the pinion, and the motor won't get energised. Check that the connections between battery and starter, and igniton switch and starter, are intact. If they are, then a new starter may be needed.

JOhn

Edited by tapkaJohnD on Wednesday 5th February 10:42

[Codswallop]

Thanks for the responses everyone, and in particular tapkaJohnD.

By way of an update, the starter motor continued to work with sporadic instances where the car would not start. When the car would not start, I could not hear the solenoid trying to work. Got the car on ramps and checked the condition of the cables from the battery to the starter, which looked fine. New starter was fitted and since then no more issues.

Thanks for the trouble shooting help everyone

[paintman]

Thank you for the update.