Car won’t start (battery fine) - flywheel or starter motor?
Discussion
So the gears on my c1 stopped working a while ago, couldn’t get into gears whilst engine was running, but could whilst engine was off. Got it home, after a LOT of faff finally managed to get the bell housing off, clutch system changed (thrust bearer had a piece broken off from one of the arms), bell housing eventually back on (had to construct a gantry with a winch to lift it!!) and for 3 days the car ran fine without any issues!
Then on the fourth day noticed the gear slipped from 2nd into neutral… this had never happened before but clearly not a great sign, I figured I’d look into it when I got back, parked up in town, left it for a couple hours, came back to find the engine wouldn’t start. No cranking at all.
RAC came out, tested the battery which was all good, whacked the starter motor a bit but still nothing. Got the car towed back home, took the starter motor out and connected it directly up to the battery and it seems to be working as it should? So… does that mean there’s something wrong with the flywheel? Or is it still most likely an issue with the starter motor or the cables to it?
The fact it slipped gear does rather suggest something isn’t right within the bell housing though 🫤 maybe the flywheel needs resurfacing? I spilled a fair bit of the gearbox oil when refilling it, maybe that’s gotten into the clutch system and lubed things that didn’t want lubing?
Would getting the flywheel resurfaced also somehow solve any starting issues though? Wouldn’t a fault with the flywheel that meant it wasn’t starting mean an issue with the teeth?
I realise this is probably quite vague, any advice from anyone with more knowledge would be appreciated though, but I guess I’m probably gonna need to get the bell housing back off again.
Then on the fourth day noticed the gear slipped from 2nd into neutral… this had never happened before but clearly not a great sign, I figured I’d look into it when I got back, parked up in town, left it for a couple hours, came back to find the engine wouldn’t start. No cranking at all.
RAC came out, tested the battery which was all good, whacked the starter motor a bit but still nothing. Got the car towed back home, took the starter motor out and connected it directly up to the battery and it seems to be working as it should? So… does that mean there’s something wrong with the flywheel? Or is it still most likely an issue with the starter motor or the cables to it?
The fact it slipped gear does rather suggest something isn’t right within the bell housing though 🫤 maybe the flywheel needs resurfacing? I spilled a fair bit of the gearbox oil when refilling it, maybe that’s gotten into the clutch system and lubed things that didn’t want lubing?
Would getting the flywheel resurfaced also somehow solve any starting issues though? Wouldn’t a fault with the flywheel that meant it wasn’t starting mean an issue with the teeth?
I realise this is probably quite vague, any advice from anyone with more knowledge would be appreciated though, but I guess I’m probably gonna need to get the bell housing back off again.
God almighty, too many tangents there.
Your gear slippage from 2nd to neutral might or might not be something to do with linkages, or bad engine mounts, if not the box itself.
If your starter clicks but does not turn the engine over, then possibly a solenoid fault, possibly a cabling fault, not enough current available to turn it over. If completely dead, nothing, not a sound, then possibly an ignition switch issue.
Your gear slippage from 2nd to neutral might or might not be something to do with linkages, or bad engine mounts, if not the box itself.
If your starter clicks but does not turn the engine over, then possibly a solenoid fault, possibly a cabling fault, not enough current available to turn it over. If completely dead, nothing, not a sound, then possibly an ignition switch issue.
When you connected the starter motor off the car to the battery did it try to throw itself about or just spin slowly?
Had very similar with my Classic Range Rover. Wasn't connecting full battery power to the starter motor & it was the solenoid had failed.
Much the same as this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5tiWcBbtHk
Had very similar with my Classic Range Rover. Wasn't connecting full battery power to the starter motor & it was the solenoid had failed.
Much the same as this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5tiWcBbtHk
Ok so update… it just started… and I have no idea why. It did start twice yesterday as well, the first time the engine came to a stop and when I started it again, it petered out within a couple of seconds. There was also a smell of overheating electrics coming from seemingly in the car…
But yeah, today it didn’t start initially, so I dropped the handbrake, wiggled the gearbox and steering wheel, tried again and it started and stayed running. Turned it off, came back on again and no smell (though I feel like the engine sounds kinda weak)
So… I can’t explain it. I replaced the starter motor first off and still it didn’t start. I tested the connection to the solenoid and while it read 11.98 volts, I feel like that should surely be enough to power it? (The battery says 12.04 for comparison) the engine went round when I turned it via the crankshaft and I could see the flywheel turning with it through the little hole for the starter.
All I’ve really done was adjust the clutch pedal and wipe up the spilt oil from the top of the bell housing… but I did all that yesterday and it was still struggling to start. (It fired up today with the original starter motor in!)
I feel like this isn’t a victory though… because I still have no idea what was going on, so no certainty it isn’t gonna happen again!? Thanks to everyone for the tips and suggestions though!
But yeah, today it didn’t start initially, so I dropped the handbrake, wiggled the gearbox and steering wheel, tried again and it started and stayed running. Turned it off, came back on again and no smell (though I feel like the engine sounds kinda weak)
So… I can’t explain it. I replaced the starter motor first off and still it didn’t start. I tested the connection to the solenoid and while it read 11.98 volts, I feel like that should surely be enough to power it? (The battery says 12.04 for comparison) the engine went round when I turned it via the crankshaft and I could see the flywheel turning with it through the little hole for the starter.
All I’ve really done was adjust the clutch pedal and wipe up the spilt oil from the top of the bell housing… but I did all that yesterday and it was still struggling to start. (It fired up today with the original starter motor in!)
I feel like this isn’t a victory though… because I still have no idea what was going on, so no certainty it isn’t gonna happen again!? Thanks to everyone for the tips and suggestions though!
Tokkoh said:
Ok so update… it just started… and I have no idea why. It did start twice yesterday as well, the first time the engine came to a stop and when I started it again, it petered out within a couple of seconds. There was also a smell of overheating electrics coming from seemingly in the car…
But yeah, today it didn’t start initially, so I dropped the handbrake, wiggled the gearbox and steering wheel, tried again and it started and stayed running. Turned it off, came back on again and no smell (though I feel like the engine sounds kinda weak)
So… I can’t explain it. I replaced the starter motor first off and still it didn’t start. I tested the connection to the solenoid and while it read 11.98 volts, I feel like that should surely be enough to power it? (The battery says 12.04 for comparison) the engine went round when I turned it via the crankshaft and I could see the flywheel turning with it through the little hole for the starter.
All I’ve really done was adjust the clutch pedal and wipe up the spilt oil from the top of the bell housing… but I did all that yesterday and it was still struggling to start. (It fired up today with the original starter motor in!)
I feel like this isn’t a victory though… because I still have no idea what was going on, so no certainty it isn’t gonna happen again!? Thanks to everyone for the tips and suggestions though!
That voltage suggests your battery is around 50% charged.But yeah, today it didn’t start initially, so I dropped the handbrake, wiggled the gearbox and steering wheel, tried again and it started and stayed running. Turned it off, came back on again and no smell (though I feel like the engine sounds kinda weak)
So… I can’t explain it. I replaced the starter motor first off and still it didn’t start. I tested the connection to the solenoid and while it read 11.98 volts, I feel like that should surely be enough to power it? (The battery says 12.04 for comparison) the engine went round when I turned it via the crankshaft and I could see the flywheel turning with it through the little hole for the starter.
All I’ve really done was adjust the clutch pedal and wipe up the spilt oil from the top of the bell housing… but I did all that yesterday and it was still struggling to start. (It fired up today with the original starter motor in!)
I feel like this isn’t a victory though… because I still have no idea what was going on, so no certainty it isn’t gonna happen again!? Thanks to everyone for the tips and suggestions though!
Not saying its the issue but get this right first.
Your battery is not 'fine'.
It needs a proper charge with a battery charger.
www.thebatteryshop.co.uk/car-battery-voltage-guide...
It needs a proper charge with a battery charger.
www.thebatteryshop.co.uk/car-battery-voltage-guide...
Edited by paintman on Saturday 29th July 18:48
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