Starter Motor Problem

[DamirGTI 342]

Hello !

 

I have some starting issues for a last few days , basically the starter motor turns very slow (kinda like when the battery voltage is low ..) when i attempt to start the engine , seems like it's worse when the engine is hot then when it's cold (when i drive for a few miles and then stop at the petrol station it's a bit embarrassing hard to restart the engine afterwards i switch it of ..)

 

I've dismantled the starter yesterday , degresed and cleaned all the internals , changed the brushes (anyway the old ones where still in fairly good condition ..) etc. , refitted the starter back but still no luck (it seems even worse now it's starts hardly form cold also ) again , it spins slow during the cranking and eventually it stops spinning , and then i need to restart it with the key ... however it still fires up the engine after a few attempts ..

 

Just to add theres no strange sounds coming from the starter motor during the cranking , no grinding no nothing just this "slow motion" effect and the battery voltage is good ...

 

Any ideas what could be wrong ?

 

Thanks !

Damir

[Arahan 4]

Mine has also recently started to do the exact same thing!

[mrswampy 0]

Mine has also recently started to do the exact same thing!

i would check the earth to the starter and the engine block

and also the voltage on cranking to the starter

 

could be a cable is breaking down.

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

i would check the earth to the starter and the engine block

There isn't an earth strap from the starter to the block, the only wires to the starter are direct from the battery & one to the solenoid from the ignition switch.

 

Check the power lead & the main engine earth lead from the gearbox stud to the battery & from the chassis to the battery. Even with a good battery if the lead has started top fail by going high resistance it can cause a big voltage drop.

 

Graham.

[DamirGTI 342]

Yes , been looking around the starter and theres no earth strap between the starter and the block so it's earthed directly as its bolted on to the block/gearbox right ?

 

I already checked the earth lead which goes from the bat. negative on top of the gearbox - seems fine , no wire breakdown , clean and tight terminals on both the battery and the gearbox ends (i even add another strap from the bat. negative on to the inner wing .. but it didn't improve anything ..) , i'll check the main positive feed later

 

Thanks !

Damir

[dcc 855]

My father has this issue on his big american truck.

 

he has had it checked, and has been told one of the battery cells has died/ is dieing.

a new battery for him, maybe try something like a different battery your selves?

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

Yes , been looking around the starter and theres no earth strap between the starter and the block so it's earthed directly as its bolted on to the block/gearbox right ?

Yes, thats right, the starter is earthed through the engine block & gearbox earth stud.

 

Graham.

[Arahan 4]

Any come back on this? Haven't had a chance to look at mine yet!

[welshpug 1,657]

there are only a few things that could cause this,

 

low battery voltage (should be 12.5 at the very least)

 

Bad earth (transmission to body+ negative terminal) it does not earth through the Gearbox stud as it is bolted into a rubber bush.

 

Poor connection on the positive terminal/starter motor, be it dirty connection or breakdown of the wire.

 

Missing dowel, meaning the starter is too close to the ring gear.

 

or just a worn out starter motor.

[DamirGTI 342]

... was a worn starter .. i put together another one form bits and pieces of three spare starters which i've found in the garage , fitted that "hybrid" one and problem solved

 

Rgs !

Damir

[Arahan 4]

Thanks to both above ^^^ will have a look at all of those!