Starter Motor? - Saxperience

smiith · 24th February 2014, 10:48

Pretty sure it's the starter motor.. But just want a second opinion before i go and buy one..

Since i've had the car, its been struggling to start.. It'll do one turn, then wait a second, then do a few more and fire up.. Went to start the car today, and nothing.. Doesn't even turn over..

Tried smacking the starter with a hammer, and still nothing..

Can someone confirm this before i go and order one..

wullvfr · 24th February 2014, 10:52

Have you got a multimeter dude?

Have you tried bridging the connections on the solenoid?

Sounds like the starter but if you want to be sure test for voltage at the starter and bridge the connections on the solenoid,this will let you know for sure.

smiith · 24th February 2014, 10:54

I don't :/ So buying a starter will solve it? Can get one for £20, so no harm in getting one as long as it'll solve it... Like i said, struggling to start since i've had it, doing one really slow turn, then a pause, then turning to start..

Was working yesterday, and it seems it has just packed in today..

Mickswan · 24th February 2014, 11:09

A fucked battery could also be the culprit.

stevo67 · 24th February 2014, 11:13

As above measure the voltage on the battery 1st,or try jump starting it.

Mickswan · 24th February 2014, 11:14

Don't know about where you live smith but most small motor factors will do you a free battery test.

smiith · 24th February 2014, 11:15

I'll try that now then, hoping it's just a battery, can get one of them in town easily, will have to wait for a starter motor to be delivered, which is a ball ache

I have a jump start kit bud, i'll stick that on and see what happens

Gandi699 · 24th February 2014, 11:21

another method for a stuck solenoid is rocking the car in gear, but by the description you've made of the issue sounds like it was dying

smiith · 24th February 2014, 11:29

Tried a jump start kit on the battery, still nothing.. I tried rocking it in gear to see if it would get it moving and it didn't

New starter motor it is!

wullvfr · 24th February 2014, 11:40

Bridge the connections with a screwdriver and see if it turns over?

For £20 go for it mate....definitely sounds like its fucked.

smiith · 24th February 2014, 11:44

Meh, ebay want £24, and £8 postage now i've found the right one, and it won't arrive until friday/monday.. Gonna have to pay £75 and have one arrive for tomorrow

Gandi699 · 24th February 2014, 12:26

bump starts for 24 hours!

smiith · 24th February 2014, 12:37

I've just taken the old one off.. At some point, someone has welded a bolt onto this starter.. To one of the earthing points.. And the plug that is supposed to give it power, has been replaced by a spade connector..

That, goes to this..

Then the welded bolt..

The spade connector just pretty much came off in my hand.. Do you think that could be the cause of it? would that make it really poor at turning over before it got the power to start the car?

If i got the connection properly, do you think it could solve it, or do you just think it's fucked?

wullvfr · 24th February 2014, 12:40

I bet if you were to apply 12v directly it would turn over,it would explain why its being getting progressively worse,a slight decrease in voltage and it starts to show and by the looks of it that won't work efficiently.

smiith · 24th February 2014, 12:45

So if i bang the earths back on, and put a direct cable from the battery and it turns, turns while off the car, it's good?

Or do you think it needs a new unit because of that shit weld? Because you can jiggle the earth underneath that?

Prickle^p · 24th February 2014, 12:47

I would replace it yeah, looks abit of a mess. I'd say thats why you've had the starting up problem. Hate people that cut corners like that.

Fella from work had an issue with his water jets/motor/loom. after we checked it out it was the same. spade type ends onto the 2 pin connector end. It wouldnt work properly. In the end we sourced a proper connect and away it worked as it should.

smiith · 24th February 2014, 12:54

Going to be a right effort to find a connector to fit that.. How does someone lose a plug off a loom.. Seriously?!

Prickle^p · 24th February 2014, 12:58

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_od...+loom&_sacat=0

ebay but means you have to wait. not sure where the scrapyards are near you. pain in the arse really as you only need that little black plug.

smiith · 24th February 2014, 13:01

Rang all the scrapyards within 30 miles, all reply "we don't have any mk3 golf parts"..

Fuck it, paying £4 for a new loom, and i'm buying a second hand starter.. Fuck paying £80 for parts for a £400 car. Only has to last until it's MOT