Starter Motor Problems

[charlieb01 0]

The cars been off the road for 6 months and I tried starting it up yesterday and all I could hear was a constant clunking noise (not that loud but sounded like the starter gear wasn't engaging with the flywheel.

 

Being pretty certain that the starter is on correctly I decided to test everything starting with the battery which is fine. I then attempted the jump cable trick and got some sparks and clunks whenever I was trying to connect the leads until now. Now when I do it I don't get anything, no sparks, sound or sign of action down there.

 

Any help please?

[welshpug 1,661]

sounds like either.

 

1, battery very dead.

2 the usual voltage drop down the solenoid wire.

3, bad earth.

4, sticky solenoid.

[charlieb01 0]

sounds like either.

 

1, battery very dead.

2 the usual voltage drop down the solenoid wire.

3, bad earth.

4, sticky solenoid.

 

Thanks for the reply, the battery is new from yesterday but i'll check the other things

[charlieb01 0]

I bench tested the starter motor with still no luck, tested the battery again and it's fine sop i'm pretty sure I need a new one. Last thing I need :/

 

Does anyone have a spare in the heathrow area? Need one by friday

Edited June 19, 2013 by charlieb01

[Anthony 1,003]

Is it one of the original style "fat bodied" starter motors? If so, to be honest you've done pretty well it lasting this long without giving you grief.

 

Replace it with a later "slimline" Valeo starter as found on most late 90's XU engined PSA models and it should prove long lasting. I've got a few known good ones if you get stuck at £20 a piece, otherwise they're not horrendous money new or they're common in scrapyards if that's your thing.

 

While you're there, sort the starter solenoid wire as if that's still as it left the factory then it's liable to cause you issues sooner or later. Often, you don't need to replace the complete wire, merely cut it back so that it no longer runs through the brown multiplug (on top of the gearbox) until you get to clean corrosion-free wire and crimp a new terminal on the end.

[charlieb01 0]

Is it one of the original style "fat bodied" starter motors? If so, to be honest you've done pretty well it lasting this long without giving you grief.

 

Replace it with a later "slimline" Valeo starter as found on most late 90's XU engined PSA models and it should prove long lasting. I've got a few known good ones if you get stuck at £20 a piece, otherwise they're not horrendous money new or they're common in scrapyards if that's your thing.

 

While you're there, sort the starter solenoid wire as if that's still as it left the factory then it's liable to cause you issues sooner or later. Often, you don't need to replace the complete wire, merely cut it back so that it no longer runs through the brown multiplug (on top of the gearbox) until you get to clean corrosion-free wire and crimp a new terminal on the end.

 

 

Yeah it's the fat old starter, it's just happened at completely the wrong time which is a pain. Wouldn't be able to get to Swindon by Friday so i'm going to have a see if any breakers have on.

 

Thanks for the tips

[AlexRS2782 136 1 Cars]

I've got a working / refurbed original size (not slimline) starter in my spares collection if it helps & if you get stuck looking for one Charlie - I bought it off Miles on here last year as a spare but never ended up needing to use it.

 

I'm only in Camberley so not a great distance away