Problem With Starter

[RAF_gti 0]

Hola

 

Well wouldn't you just believe it, right before I took the 205 to Germany it decided it would be a good idea to have dodgy starting

 

Basically when I turn the key the car just sits there like a dumb thing. The fuel pump primes but nothing at all happens up front (this is not an immobilser fault). Having a look at the wiring it appears that in the past a new ignition wire has been put in, this runs from the barrel (I think) to a chock block in the engine bay, two wires have been twisted together into this block, one from the ignition coil and the other on to the starter itself.

 

After a good few wiggles the car will normally startup again, at first I thought the problem lay at the ignition barrel end but it now appears to be the connection on the motor itself (as I found out when I slipped the spade connector off at a petrol station in Germany, what a b*stard that was to get back on!)

 

Is this a relatively common fault? And is it likely to be a simple case of sticking a new wire in and cleaning the connections?

 

Any other suggestions more than happily received

 

Steve

[Richie-Van-GTi 71 2 Cars]

common fault on these cars, a new wire will resolve it yes. not sure why its going to the coil as well as this would then pass voltage back down when the coil is running which could cause the starter to engage whilst engine is running.

[RAF_gti 0]

Do you have any idea of the right way this should be wired up?

 

My mate has my Haynes at the mo so can't get a look at it.

 

Steve

[Rob_the_Sparky 9]

New wire may or may not resolve it. There are two problems that combine:

 

1) Poor wiring leads to a voltage drop somewhere (why I'm not sure, I never investigated that far but it is before the starter motor!). I solved this with a bodge wire from the ignition to the starter, I piggy backed it at the starter using a piggy back crimp connector (and fitted an inline fuse as I'm paranoid!).

 

2) Duff solenoid on the starter. Solenoid starts taking more current, ultimately more than the wiring can supply. This tends to show up first on a hot engine and gradually gets worse. If combined with no 1) then can happen earlier than otherwise expected.

 

Rob

[RAF_gti 0]

I am going to go with naff wiring for now, I shall replace it in the next few days when I get a chance (can be arsed!). To be honest it looks as though the car has been had its wiring fettled with in the past, it is very tempting to rip a lot of it out but everything seems to be working fine for now!

 

I think my worst case would be that it is the spade terminal on the starter itself, is there an easy way to fix it if that is the problem or does it involve a lot of parts removal and a new starter?

 

thanks

 

Steve

[Rob_the_Sparky 9]

If you are talking about the connector on the starter then some fine sandpaper can help clean it up. If it is the loom connection then easiest is to cut it off and replace.