Dead starter?

[AndyJ]

The Scala (DX engine) is getting a bit tricky to start. Turn the key and the starter just clicks, even with a fully charged battery. I'm reckoning that the solenoid is sticking and isn't yet completely dead as it will eventually work. So what are my options?

1) Clean the solenoid up and check the wiring?

2) Source a new solenoid?

3) Get new starter from GSF?

4) Get starter from scrappies?

5) Carry a hammer with me and give the starter a whack when wanting to start the Old Girl? Does this actually work?

[james butler]

i had exactly the same problem. changed the starter for 80 quid.
there is no way of servicing the solenoid apart from the plunger and spring. and at the risk of the solenoid jamming and causing an electerical fire like mine nearly did. It really isnt worth it as the wires going to the starter aint fused!!!

[james butler]

forgot to mention yeah wacking it with a hammer does work but you wont get away with it for long as you can damage the internals by denting the outer casing + you get a reduced price for purchasing your new starter by giving them your old one. they wont like it if you give it too them dented. as it happens i found out i killed my starter moter by spray painting it red to match my gearbox

[Nate]

you can sometimes revive them by stripping them down, thoroughly cleaning them out with degreaser and then regreasing all the moving parts in the pivot. quite often the problem is that the grease that's in there has slowly got loads of clutch dust mixed into it, and it stops lubricating and becomes more like a glue.

i think haynes actually explain how to do this

[AndyJ]

Thanks Chaps

Good advice and helped me with my weekend's endeavours. The Haynes manual does indeed have a procedure for stripping down the solenoid, something that I will bear in mind if I haven't fixed the problem.

I spent some time checking the electrics with special regard to potential differences and current drawn and I found the problem. It was the fuel pump relay! The relay has always been a bit odd in that it takes a few seconds to energise and during that time the car won't start (as if the battery is flat). This has been taking longer over the past year and so I hypothesised that if the relay has internal fault causing it to draw too much current then when the weather is colder the engine won't start. Swapped in a new relay and that seems to have cured it, started soon as I turned the key with no waiting for it to sort itself out. I have added an extra earth cable from the starter to the battery as a back up as the original looked a bit manky.

Anyway, fingers crossed for tomorrow morning as I really can't afford a new starter at the moment and I don't have the time to be stripping it down either.

[Nate]

forgot to say: check you earths! a dodgy earth to the gearbox would cause similar problems. much cheaper than replacing a starter too. just clean it up and make sure it's tight

[steve]

The other question is have you had a drop tester on your battery? Showing the voltage and kicking out the current are two different things, and it's the time of year when weak batteries show their colours.

If you do find your starter's faulty, it might be worth making enquiries round your local area. There's a couple of old boy in a shed type businesses back home that'll rebuild a starter for about £40.

[AndyJ]

forgot to say: check you earths! a dodgy earth to the gearbox would cause similar problems. much cheaper than replacing a starter too. just clean it up and make sure it's tight

Already checked;12.8V from gearbox to battery +ve with the engine off. However I did add a second earth strap from the starter (used one of the bolts) to the battery -ve.

The other question is have you had a drop tester on your battery? Showing the voltage and kicking out the current are two different things, and it's the time of year when weak batteries show their colours.

If you do find your starter's faulty, it might be worth making enquiries round your local area. There's a couple of old boy in a shed type businesses back home that'll rebuild a starter for about £40.

I haven't had a shunt test done and I'm wondering if that's something I need to have done. The battery is new (August) and the previous battery did something similar last year during the winter (but not as badly). The previous battery was replaced as I left the lights on which knackered it Now, I'm wondering if a shunt test needs to be done as this is two instances where this has occurred with batteries from GSF. One thing I have noticed is a drop in quality from GSF over recent years and I'm wondering if this might be the the same with their batteries.

Oh and despite my efforts over the weekend the problem is still there but not as bad. I can usually get her started on the second try if I'm quick with the key. Really thinking (hoping?)that this is an earth/battery fault rather than a starter fault. However, good call about finding a workshop locally who will strip down and rebuild the starter for me, something I'll look into if other options don't work.

[Nate]

you can easy enuf do a drop test yourself with nothing other than a multi-meter. all drop testers do is apply a huge load to the battery and measure the voltage, so you can see how much it drops. get someone to hold the meter accross the battery while you get it cranking over. anything below 9 or 10V would be considered a fail.

as for rebuilding the starter, it really is easy to strip it, clean it and grease it. don't have my rocco haynes to hand, but the golf one explains how to do it. if you are capable of taking the starter off, you can strip it yourself. it really isn't difficult.

[AndyJ]

you can easy enuf do a drop test yourself with nothing other than a multi-meter. all drop testers do is apply a huge load to the battery and measure the voltage, so you can see how much it drops. get someone to hold the meter accross the battery while you get it cranking over. anything below 9 or 10V would be considered a fail.

as for rebuilding the starter, it really is easy to strip it, clean it and grease it. don't have my rocco haynes to hand, but the golf one explains how to do it. if you are capable of taking the starter off, you can strip it yourself. it really isn't difficult.

Cheers Nate

The fault seems to be intermittent at the moment and is more embarrassing than a problem. If I can get away with it for the moment I'll wait until I have more time on my hands and some warmer weather.