Starter Motor - intermittent issue?

[exec406]

Hi

Sometimes when I go to start my car, the engine will turn over maybe a dozen times before starting and at other times it starts straight away.

The starter motor is only about 18 months old, however I recently had diesel leaking from the area around the fuel filter in the top centre of the engine. When I took the the engine cover off and checked the fuel filter connections the diesel leak had stopped but it looked as though the engine was a bit soaked in diesel. The starting issue started several days after that happened.

My question is - could this fuel leak have contaminated the starter motor causing the intermittent starting issues I have? (per above) I was told the fuel leak in the engine near the fuel filter could have been some kind of release valve, it hasn't happened since.

Car is 406 2.2 hdi D9 2003.

Thanks

[markw]

I take it you mean the engine turns over ok but it just doesn't fire straightaway? If the engine cranks normally when you operate the key, then that's really all the starter is able to do.
I'd be looking at fuel supply to see whether there's a problem there.

[exec406]

Engine always started straight away before the diesel leak now it's intermittent between straight away and maybe 5 seconds to fire up.

Maybe it's the fuel supply as you say, I will check that out. I use BP Ultimate diesel more or less all the time.

Thanks.

[GingerMagic]

Is it possible that there is a tiny leak somewhere, which lets in an air bubble between filter and pump making it slower to fire up? I don't think the starter is at fault either.....

[Doggy]

I agree - finding the leak is the key to this. Is it coming from the pump / pressure regulator? These have been known to play up.

Take great care investigating the high pressue fuel system, (HP pump, fuel rail, injectors) as the pressures are dangerous.

[exec406]

The latest on this is that I'm still getting intermittent starting issues.

Occasionally, now, the engine will turn over and it's still turning over while the engine has already fired up. On other occasions the engine will start right away then immediately stop.

This is in between it turning over for 8 seconds or so then starting and starting normally.

??

[markw]

Occasionally, now, the engine will turn over and it's still turning over while the engine has already fired up. On other occasions the engine will start right away then immediately stop.

This needs a bit of clarification....
Do the first part mean sometimes the starter continues to run after the engine has fired?
And the second part mean the engine fires and the starter stops as it should?

For the starter to still be trying to crank after the engine has fired means it has an extremely stiff armature which gets stuck in the on position or you have a electrical/mechanical problem with the ignition barrel and it's keeping the starter engaged too long.

I'd take the starter out and temp connect the solenoid to a 12v supply and watch how it behaves. It should throw the pinion out with a lot of force and when the supply is removed, should retract equally as strong. If yours stays out or is sluggish going back, try lubricating it or if the whole thing looks iffy, replace the starter.

[exec406]

The problem seems to have resolved itself and appears to have been the fuel. The starting issues started after I filled up at a different garage to what I normally use (I fill up with BP Ultimate diesel)

I let that fuel supply run down to near empty then filled up at my regular garage again and the fault went away soon after that.

Thanks for the replies.