Starter motor borked??

[DougWomble]

Hello,

I have an '89 Scirocco GT Auto, with a manual choke (carb was replaced a year ago).

Essentially: key in ignition, lights on, and nothing happens (apart from the telltale click from the solenoid). I've charged the battery, I've tried a different battery, and it's the same situation.

Reading online the chances are the starter motor's died, although I'm curious what else I should check in addition to this.

I'm wondering if this would also be behind my problems starting the car over the past 4-6 months - more and more often I'd have to turn the engine over for a minute, before it would eventually kick into life.

I'm hoping it is the starter motor, as anything more complex would probably see me selling it after 8 years of ownership, because I'm really starting to tear my hair out.

Any help would be much appreciated, thanks.

[bengould]

If your handy with a spanner and a screwdriver strip your starter and check the motor brushes. These will be much cheaper to replace than the motor itself.

Ben.

[unknownmale]

Another tip, have someone tap the starter with a hammer while you try and turn it over.

[Blueshark]

Why doe you turn on your lights first ? or do you mean the dash lights light up ?.

Joost

[DougWomble]

Joost - I mean the dash lights / headlights / blowers all work, so the battery seems fine.

I may not be mechanically minded, and I like to think I've got a fair amount of common sense, but... I just don't know where to look for the starter motor! You may laugh, but it's a completely different setup to the Haynes manual, and bearing in mind it's a 1989 GT Auto, where the heck am I supposed to be looking? I may be having a blonde moment, but I don't know where I'm looking. Any help, please? I'm all set to give up on the ******* car.

[unknownmale]

Follow the passenger side drive shaft.

tran1009.jpg

[mark1gls]

That is well hinden compared to a manual gearbox car, I can see why you was having problems finding it!

[DougWomble]

Thank you for the advice.

Well, two months after it last moved, I'd arranged my mechanic mate to tow it away today and work his magic - and it sprang into life without a second thought. F***ing thing...

I drove it to the mechanic anyway as something's clearly wrong (probably starter motor), plus I need to get it checked out and ready for winter, so bracing myself for another assault on the wallet...