Help van won't start!

[1_eyed_jim]

Just been out to check the van over and when I turn the key all I get is a "click" from the relay in the glove box. The battery is fully charged and the connections to the battery are tight. Also when the key is removed the handbrake warning light stays illuminated?? If I then play with the gears it will go out?? How odd. I've been under the van and everything is connected. I've bump started it fine but when I turn it off it fails to start by starter motor. Dead starter motor? Ta Rob

[dubslug]

check the connection on solenoid on starter, mine looked ok, i cut it off and re crimped a new connection, fires up first time now

[1_eyed_jim]

check the connection on solenoid on starter, mine looked ok, i cut it off and re crimped a new connection, fires up first time now

Thanks will check it out. Need to get some crimps first

[dubslug]

clean the pole it connects to first if u dont have crimps to hand. i was told that if connection isnt right it can arch out and create a sweetspot, if this gets knocked its almost impossible to get back without cleaning, also sounds silly but crank your van and hold ignition on, mine would do thid and after about 10 seconds just kick in and run

[1_eyed_jim]

What about the handbrake warning light staying on when I remove the keys?

[dubslug]

not come across that before, maybe a bad connection some where

[1_eyed_jim]

Thanks. Also wants I clean the contacts up what can I do to help prevent corrosion again? Is vaseline a good idea? For the contacts that is

[nevill3]

I had an intermittent starting problem on my 16.d, I cleaned the contacts and added a new earth strap too, the problem went away or so I thought only to reappear just before our major holiday last year. The starter motor had failed, I even tried the direct power to the starter, just to eliminate the ignition switch and associated wiring. When I removed the starter and stripped it down I found that two of the carbon brushes were very worn and two had totally disappeared. The removal and stripping of the starter motor is relatively straight forward so a quick check could save you heartache later.

The intermittent nature of my problem was because some of the brass contact points on the commutator were also pitted and burnt so if the starter motor stopped in a certain position it didn't have enough of an electrical connection to turn.