Starter Motor?

[Kipper]

Hi All

I am having some fun with my 1997 406 Exec 2L Turbo. It is having trouble starting when hot. I can hear the solenoid click in, but the engine will not turn over. If i leave it to cool down, it starts first time. Has anyone experienced the same issue? Damn annoying to say the least

Thanks in advance

Steve

[steve_earwig]

Hi there Steve, welcome to our humble forum

That's rather odd, it's not something I've ever heard of, won't crank when it's hot? I presume it's not the engine trying to seize. Does it bump start? Perhaps it's expansion of metal somewhere else, something's moving and making a poor connection worse, perhaps it's inside the solenoid or starter motor.The pain in the bum is you'll have to work on it hot, although you can clean up the connections on the supply while it's cold. I think I'd be testing the supply to the starter motor, connect it between the supply tag and earth and either put the meter somewhere you can see it or have an assistant start it (make sure it's out of gear!), if the voltage stays the same it could be the connection between the solenoid and the starter motor (which I think you can check) or it's the solenoid/starter motor itself (dahn the breakers you go) If the voltage drops to zero it's a dodgy connection on the supply lead (battery or starter motor end).

[Blackbob]

I'd say you're on the right lines, after starting your engine any bad electrical connections will be hot, and they seem to have higher resistance then.. Compression probably higher when engine is warm, as pistons/rings expand and close up gaps, so starter has to work harder. My '56 Fordson Major does the same

[Kipper]

Hi Steve and Bob

Thanks for the responses and the welcome. Had a good look with the Multi Meter on Sunday. Electrics seem to be fine with the exception of the output from the solenoid. When cold, the voltage was 12v whilst cranking the engine. When hot, the voltage remained zero. Tried this twice to make sure. So I have concluded, the contacts in the solenoid are warping whilst hot to the point where they no longer pass the voltage through to the starter motor. As steve put it, "dahn the breakers you go".

Will update you when swapped.

Thanks for your Help

Steve

[Doggy]

Nice bit of dognosis there, Steve. Sounds conclusive.

[Kipper]

Hi

Just a quick update. Starter motor has been replaced. Had to get one from a dealer as it finally packed in completely at the most inconvenient time. £130 well spent though as it fixed the problem. I was expecting the job to be fiddly but it was quite straight forward once the air filter box was removed. Thanks for all your help.

Steve

[teamster1975]

Glad you got it sorted Steve, mine packed up around the same time!