Club 80-90 Forums

Is there a relay in the starter motor electrics? The van is a standard 1983 1.6d van and it wont always go on the key. Takes a few goes with the key then she is off and away. I can hear a click when I turn the key from the back end but not a clunk like the starter solenoid engaging. It's a brand new starter motor, but the old one I removed was doing the same sort of thing just before I removed it.

I wondered if it had anything to do with the Glow Plug Relay.

when you removed the starter did you clean the bell housing where it bolts??????? sounds like this could be your problem matey as it relies on a 100% contact here for the earth... possibly your other starter was ok... as a quick test without completey taking it off loosen a couple of bolts and run a knife back and forth between the starter and the casing to clean a tad , tighten the starter with the knife or a peice of metal between the 2 to act as a contact, DONT PUSH IT TOO FAR IN, then turn the old girl over.... it should start....

The glow plug relay clunks after a few seconds.
When you say it takes a few goes with the key, do you mean cycles? Are you switching it on and off a few time?

If yes then you are cycling the heater plugs and if she goes okay after a few cycles then you have some glow plugs out.

Yes actually I am having to turn the key on and off a few times to get it to spin. It seems only to be an issue when its cold and when the heater coils come on. When she is warm and the heater lights are not functioning (never did fully understand how the van knows its warm) its fine. That's why I suspected the relay system.

I did test all of the glow pulgs before I fitted the motor a week ago and they were all fine (test involved shorting across the battery and a glowing pulg meant ok ! - is there more to it?)

If you can't get the motor to spin (do you mean turn over) then the problem lies with the starter motor and not the plugs.

I misunderstood your problem.

Take a look at what Lambrettalee wrote, that is probably the correct direction.

Titus A Duxass wrote:If you can't get the motor to spin (do you mean turn over) then the problem lies with the starter motor and not the plugs.

I misunderstood your problem.

Take a look at what Lambrettalee wrote, that is probably the correct direction.

aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh , why does no body believe me , go and do it now,

also the glow plugs have nothing to do with how slow/fast your starter is turning at... get the kettle on im on my way.....

Yes spin means turn over. If it was a earth fault, I'd expect it to at least engage and try to turn the engine over. But it doesnt. It just clicks lightly like a relay engaging. Not Clunks like a Solinoid throwing.

But yes I will clean up the faces and try that too.

mine did exactly the same as your describing and cleaning the faces done the job...

This is still an on going problem with my van. Sometimes goes first turn of the key and other times I can be sitting there for ages trying to get the starter motor to spin.

Any idea's.

This is almost certainly a weak earth connection somewhere.

Either between the starter and the housing (as discussed) or some bonding lead somewhere.

Clean, replace and try again.

It could well be the heavy duty lead that goes traight from the battery to the motor. If its frayed or corroded it wont conduct well. Just get all the connections cleaned up and they problem should be gone.

I have this same problem, sometimes it starts first turn of the key, others you can be sat there trying for 5 mins. The person i bought it off said her mechanic neighbour had said it was the starter solenoid not engaging correctly and from what i have read on here and in the Haynes manual it could well be an earthing problem.
I plan on jacking the van up over the weekend to try and get to the starter and check the connections.

airhead wrote:It could well be the heavy duty lead that goes traight from the battery to the motor. If its frayed or corroded it wont conduct well. Just get all the connections cleaned up and they problem should be gone.

I had exactly this problem described - it wasn't an issue with the earth for me.

I suggest you take off this cable and closely inspect it (half the cores had snapped at the lug that goes onto the starter motor on mine).

Im assuming after all the above posts you have checked your earths?

Ringo

If you replaced the starter motor then you must have taken off and examined the switch terminal on the solenoid.
This sounds like it could be a faulty ignition switch, which are very common, £8.51 at GSF about 40mins to change.
Martin