Starting Woes!

[tel337]

I am having starting problems with my 1.1 sx when cold. I suspect it is a faulty starter motor. Are there any checks I can carry out on the starter to confirm before I bite the bullet and get a 'new' one cos they are v hard to change?

[CraigyAVFC]

The most likely reason for your starter motor been the cause of your engine failing to start would be because the starter motor is sticking, you can tap the starter motor with a plastic mallet a few times which would usually get the starter motor going again short term.

[Lionsden]

Mine played up like that for a couple of months, then I ended up getting one from a scrappy, worked no problems for years.

[Stevo123]

Please describe the problem more. Is it turning slower than usual? Is it clicking and not turning? Is it not engaging properly making a loud screech noise? etc

[tel337]

It is turning normally to begin with then gradually it slows almost to a stop and then the battery(which is only 1 year old ie good) dies. On bump start from cold it will start straight away which lead me to believe the starter may be faulty!

[Stevo123]

It sounds as if batt is dead/dying/being drained overnight by something like boot light stuck on and thus does nnot have the oomph to spin the engine quick enough. Of course bumping it off spins the engine quick enough. Why not try disconnecting your battery tonight and then reconnect in the morning to see if it is being drained.

It might be something as daft as a stuck boot light-the switches often fail to extinguish the light (mine did, I have taken the bulb out for now).

Alternatively you may have a poor connection on the battery, alternator, starter motor or earth that allows things to work but when it is asked to deliver high current to the starter fails to allow it to pass.

If the starter spins quickly to begin with then slows down I would not be looking to replace it because it proves (while turning quickly) that it can work properly and slowing down of the stater is not a fault I would change it for in this scenario.

One last thing - check the electrolite levels in your battery and top up if needed with distilled water (NOT TAP WATER). Some battery's are sealed units though so you might not be able to do this on yours.

All the best

[tel337]

Stevo,
Many thanks for your observations! The car does have a sub etc fitted wired direct to battery so it could be that. I will follow your good advice and let you know what transpires!

[tel337]

It still stubbornly refuses to start despite starter turning quite heathily several times. This problem is always worse when the weather is cold; it starts fine in warm weather! Is this a pointer cos its driving me mad. I have changed all the plugs , put new ht leads on and checked all the obvoius and I really don't know where to go from here! HELP

[tel337]

Just managed to get it started after quite a few turns and I think it only started because the sun has warmed the garage up a bit. Once its started it will start first time every time until left overnight when it wont start in the mornings! Please anyone have any further observations?

[grazbag]

my starter is also playing up, its might a flat/dead spot on the fly wheel? Usually starts no problems, plenty of battery power but randomly I will turn the key and nothing, if I rock the car or push start it it fires up no problems! It has failed twice in two weeks... would anyone have any idea if this is the starter? Plastic mallet in boot now having read this thread

Cheers