My van has mysteriously broken two starter motors!!

[dingdangdoo]

I had the same problem with my 1.6 diesel last year and it turned out to be a blown head gasket.The gasket had gone filling up a cylinder and seizing the engine solid.At first the engine was getting a bit slow at starting,i think the water was only seaping into the cylinder and when started up forcing it back.It was not until i had overheating problems and one snapped starter i found out what it was.For some reason it would turn over by hand at first but then locked up solid.I hope this helps and you dont sacrifice another starter as i did.

[ghost123uk]

It does really need two people for alignment and pushing it back in to the bell housing... after aligning the input shaft and sliding the box in... It really does feel like a no hoper... But then pop in it goes. What a wonderful feeling

That is the bit that always gets me, trying to line up the shaft and spigot bearing ! Then as you say, after half an hour of trying to get it to line up, suddenly, it slides in

Don't ever be tempted to "pull it in" with the bolts though !!

Nice post by the way Mr Smith for a newbie on here

[footstuck]

Hi
I'd go along with the most likely cause being suspect head gasket.
If water seeps into the cylinder overnight and in the morning you get in and swing the engine over,
the minimal clearance volume of the piston is soon taken up by the water that has got into the bore, and it will not be compressed by the or forced back out in a split second.
This would cause a hydraulic lock of the piston when it approaches the top of its stroke.
If the head has not been off for a very long time and antifreeze has not been kept to correct concentration,
the gasket and head perish to a degree and the joint will pass by water or oil, and sometimes both.
Without sounding to pessimistic, it would be a good idea to turn the engine over by pushing it along in gear (ignition off)
for a full two engine revolutions before attempting to use the new starter on it.
If it locks up and wont turn you will have to look at this being the most likely cause.
have you heard any cracking noises or unusual pinking or excess smoke(steam) immediately after starting?
Hope there's a more simple explanation mate

[Chopper]

Thanks a million lads, very valuable info!!

[Chopper]

Ok, plot thickens....
The van is in someone else's yard so I just popped over to get the battery out.
The engine turns over with a spanner no bother so I'll have to rule that out.
Once I get it back to mine I'll pull the gearbox and see if there is a problem with the flywheel etc...

[Chopper]

Ok. you guys were right!
I was turning the engine the wrong way and when I finally turned it clockwise it wouldn't go.
I started to dismantle the engine to get the head off and the air box and cylinder bores were full to the brim with water.
I'm not totally sure whether the head gasket had failed or if the water somehow came in down the air inlet.
There was water in the hose leading to the snorkel but no real drop in the coolant level in the expansion tank...curious!

[dingdangdoo]

Glad to hear you know what it was.I was pretty sure it was the head gasket mate,just glad you did not fit and bugger another starter. .In the same boat cylider head wise with the engine i fitted last year.I have only drove it up and down the drive since fitting the bleeder and it looks like its gone over winter,eventhough it had the correct amount of antifreeeze.It's just one of those things we have to put up with with old vans.

[Chopper]

Glad to hear you know what it was.I was pretty sure it was the head gasket mate,just glad you did not fit and bugger another starter. .In the same boat cylider head wise with the engine i fitted last year.I have only drove it up and down the drive since fitting the bleeder and it looks like its gone over winter,eventhough it had the correct amount of antifreeeze.It's just one of those things we have to put up with with old vans.

I suppose the only good thing about the repetition of theses problems is we get quicker at fixing them!
I delighted and surprised myself by having the gearbox out and back in within an hour and a half!