Another (different?) starter problem

[Still Grinning]

Time to ask the all-knowing Griff massive.....

I have been having a problem with blowing the ignition fuse (most right hand fuse in the bottom row in the fuse box in the passenger footwell) as soon as I start to crank the starter. When it first happened, a new fuse was fitted and away we went. Then about 4 weeks later it did it again, and after 4 fuses I gave up and called a very very nice man (oh, the shame!).

After 30 minutes with the pair of us ferkling about with his multimeter, and various other items, we found that we could start the car by running a direct cable from the battery to the starter, so the usual 'fried solenoid' became the chief suspect (bearing in mind I have had no trouble with it starting in the previous 12 years....).

So re-con starter and solenoid fitted (and confirmation that the old one was cooked), all seemed fine for the next three weeks...... until today. Same problem, and now been through another 3 fuses, before pushing the *@!&ing thing back into the garage.

I am guessing that we have an intermittent short somewhere in the loom, but does anyone have any other ideas?

By the way, I know I should fit a hot start kit. What is more I have, but it is not connected owing to a seperate problem with my immobiliser. But as I said before, having had no previous trouble starting hot or cold, there must be a new developing issue.

The 'good' thing is that it is currently not working (although I expect I will go out tomorrow and it will fire up), which means we can have a go at fault tracing, but I am hoping for some likely suggestions on where to start.

It is a 4.3 pre-cat, if that helps.

Still Grinning (just)

[davetherave1970]

Had this happen to mine a month back.
Turned the key and it seemed like the starter stuck for a second, then started.
Next time I turned the key it stuck again and this time the igni fuse had blown (mines 3rd in from the bottom right).
Changed fuse (for the same value) and it's been fine ever since.

I'd be interested to know what you find so I can be ready

sorry not much help

[Still Grinning]

Hi Dave

Maybe it's an Essex thing......

If I get any joy I will let you know. It is frustrating because I just can't trust the car anywhere now, or I have to park on a hill with a bucketful of spare fuses in the car.

Still (hoping?) Grinning

[carl350i]

I had the same sort of problems with mine, I eventually found the wire which goes to the starter solenoid was chaffed. The position on mine was, follow the wire from the solenoid upwards where it goes over the rocker cover, mine was here.

[Still Grinning]

Hi Carl

I think / hope that I found almost exactly the same issue. I have put some extra insulation around it, and have been thrashing around for the last 10 days with no re-occurrences yet. But as it was an intermittent problem anyway, I can't be certain for a while yet.

Let's hope we have both found / solved it!