Starter motor FIXED !!! (with a warning)

[Archangel]

starter just making clicking noise and not turning over

[steve_earwig]

Turn lights on, try starter:
Lights dim/go out -> check battery connections -> connections ok -> charge battery/replace
Lights stay bright -> check connections -> connections ok -> suspect start motor
Hit starter motor with hammer, put car in gear and rock backwards and forwards and retry -> ok now -> plan to replace starter motor in the not too distant future.
Still no worky -> remove starter motor and check solenoid action and condition of brushes & commutator. You probably can't get spares so it's off down t' breakers.

[sirwiggum]

Excellent post.
This should be stickied!

[teamster1975]

Excellent post.
This should be stickied!

I reckon you're right!

[sirwiggum]

It's a handy step by step without having to get the multimeter out!

[swiss]

And it's pitched right at my level of competence ^_^


Plus I liked the bit about the hammer

[Archangel]

yes ,very succinct but: a) no room to swing hammer and hit starter as you can see



b)) but anyway starter has been replaced ( I have a mechanic next door but one ) and all is now well (thank god )

first 2 points on list tried first anyway and mechanic ( Hans ) had already told me that starter was suspect so had bought replacement from local factor (LVW Senar ) top notch factor (birkenhead, ellesmere port , flint , wrexham ) for those in my area . Starting is so noticeably better !!

Also note that electrical connectors can be different ( i.e. spade connector instead of nut and washer (and vice versa )

[daniel]

PLEASE BEWARE EVERYONE. Do not hit a starter motor. A lot of modern starter motors have perminent magnets which are bonded to the inside of the starter motor and are quite fragile to impacts. If you hit them you are at risk of causing these magnets to break up and jam the whole motor solid. I know this from previous experience as I used to strip and fix starter motors as a job. You have been warned.

[steve_earwig]

Thanks for the heads up!

[teamster1975]

I've been using a persuader on mine for the last year or so, I'd better knuckle down and replace it!

[STALLED]

Yep - usually the solenoid which will not engage - hence the clicking noise!

Options are:

1) Carry a breaker bar with you and give it some persuasion every time it won't start -

2) Pay money and get a new one.

I did the latter...

[Archangel]

Yep - usually the solenoid which will not engage - hence the clicking noise!

Options are:

1) Carry a breaker bar with you and give it some persuasion every time it won't start -

2) Pay money and get a new one.

I did the latter...

option is temporary as persuasion leads to option 2 because of damage to permenant magnets in starter

btw went for option 2 anyway and had nice mobile mechanic who`s a neighbour do the dirty work while I was at work

[exec406]

If you notice your starter motor starting to 'labour' it's time to change it before you get stranded somewhere. Couldn't believe the difference when I changed my Valeo starter motor with a new Bosch one.

Not only a diferent sound but much quicker start.

[daesal]

hello all. good forum here. my mate just got a pug 406 and seeing as i live next door and got the tool kit it seemed like a good thing to join ye all...
anyway starter, this pug had a starter problem. changed glow plugs-still had problem. persuaded it a few times then went and got new starter now all starting fine EXCEPT the Anti Pollution Warning is coming on and it is driveing in "safe mode" (how driving at 2500rpm with a car full of kids is safe i don't know but...). anyone else had this happen? is there anything obvious we did wrong or something knocked. The car also had a full service down the friendly garage 20miles before this but drove back fine so i assume we messed up somewhere?

[daesal]

update- there was something obvious we did wrong. didn't connect the intercooler intake pipe exactly right.it was only mm's out but took it off reconnected it and all is good.happy days