Grrrrrr Starter still playing up !!

[gov]

Still having problems with starter - usual thing - all clicks and whirls etc you expect to hear but won't turn over . Checked battery ( fine ) , new starter motor fitted last year and created a new earth in engine bay at the same time. Originally played up after I bought van but after new starter motor fitted was fine all through last summer. Been stood still since last October but until recently always started every two weeks or so. As I have RAC homestart got them in - Rac man twiddled with lead off solenoid whilst I turned ignition - started up immediately . He put new lead end on and tried it at least half a dozen times - perfect . Next morning - click, click !!!!!!!!! . Since then starts sometimes then won't!! Mechanic friend coming round next week to check it out - Could it possibly be ignition end ? If so what do you have to buy to replace ( whole ignition , lock etc ?).

Any advice would be very welcome.

( 89 2.1 petrol )

Tony

[HarryMann]

Could try contact cleaner on the ign switch, and check connections... it can be at that end, yes.

[Red Westie]

Certainly could be the ignition switch. they Cost......last time I bought one £8.51 from GSF.
Common to a whole range of early VW's, these switches often fail giving this type of symptom.
Not too dificult to change, steering wheel off/switch gear off (3 screws)/unplug switch gear/undo pinch bolt on aluminium ignition barrel assembly and pull off complete to access the single retaining screw on the switch.
Martin

[gov]

Thanks for advice - I think it's well worth changing the ignition switch anyway to eliminate the possibility it is this thats causing the problem.

Tony

[rugchucker]

Hi
I know you said that you have checked the battery, have you checked the resistance of the earth strap from battery to earth. My, admittedly older van had this problem and replacing the earth strap and getting a good shiny earth cured it.
Also when the new starter was fitted was the bush in the bell housing changed?

good luck

Des

[gov]

Hi
I know you said that you have checked the battery, have you checked the resistance of the earth strap from battery to earth. My, admittedly older van had this problem and replacing the earth strap and getting a good shiny earth cured it.
Also when the new starter was fitted was the bush in the bell housing changed?

good luck

Des

Double checked again and it all looks OK . As everything else works allright I presumed the battery earth is solid. I'll replace that as well though as it costs little.

Tony

[HarryMann]

Then there's the starter itself earthing through the bolts, not 'always' to be taken for granted perhaps, I cleaned mine up a round the bolts heads and mating faces in case someone had used silastic/silicone before (common on a Syncro)

[Mocki]

also common is the wire from the ignition switch to the starter solenoid going rotton internally, worth running a temp wire along side this to eleiminate it from the equasion.

it will show similar symptoms as you describe.

[andyvw]

I had this problem , but the it would work fine on the bench everytime.
I was working on the basis that the solenoid wasn't engaging hard enough to make good contacts but could never prove successfully.
fitted a replacement ( don't forget that bush) and bingo worked a treat ..... only 12 months ( 12months +1 day I think) the same thing happened again.

Bypassed the ignition switch etc , 'till finally fitted to another exchange motor ( different supplier).
Burst into life , been running a treat for the last 2 years.

So I wonder just how much they service the solenoind internal contacts when they refurbish? Are there a number of suspect solenoids circulating in this exchange pool?

[HarryMann]

Ditto after about 13 months from GSF

I would hope that the solenoid contacts are serviced as well, and they do give a plot of torque Vs current..

However, I would sy it is ALWAYS a good idea to fully charge the battery off the vehicle properly, before always suspecting the starter motor, esp. on diesels... suprising in Winter how often in winter with little use the battery slowly drops its current capacity.