Starter motor 2.1 dj - click click

[burnzdog]

Hi all,

I come back for your wisdom on a long standing issue I have had with my 2.1 DJ. The issue first started after the engine was replaced, right for the get go. At the time I replaced the starter motor but this didnt fix the issue. 

The current issue is that every now and again I turn the key and there is nothing apart from a click from the starter motor. This more often than not happens when the engine is hot, although has happened from cold.  Normally I can get it to start again by turning the key until I hear the click and then wiggle it until it eventually fires up, but this is no longer working every time. Saturday it wouldnt start when hot and had to wait until the engine cooled before it would fire up. 

At this stage I have tried the following to resolve the issue:

Changed starter motor with new one from JK.
Checked earth to battery, check earth from transmission. 
Tried a different battery.
Earth strap added direct from body to Starter.
Replaced Earth strap in engine bay.
Replaced ingnition starter switch. 
Installed hard start relay.

Can anyone offer me any more assitnace with what i can do try and find THE root cause of this issue? 

THanks

 Matt

 



 

[R0B]

Did you replace the oilite starter bush?

[burnzdog]

The whole starter motor was removed and replaced with a new unit, so I didn't feel the need to change it. 

[shepster]

The whole starter motor was removed and replaced with a new unit, so I didn't feel the need to change it. 

The Bush is In the gearbox housing.

[burnzdog]

Ah I see, so this will be removing starter, motor, the replacing the bush from within where motor attach to body? Can do this without dropping engine? Any special tools?

Thanks.

[R0B]

Taken from another post.

Oilyte bush for all T3 petrol engined starter motors.

Often the cause of misdiagnosis of faulty starter motor.

New bush should be left to soak in engine oil for 24 prior to fitting to prime the bush, no further maintenance needed.

Old ones if still intact can be removed with a M12 tap, simply screw in, wiggle and extract.

New bush to be tapped home lightly with a suitable drift.

[RogerT]

Or maybe a wiring issue? You haven’t mentioned replacing the trigger wire to the solenoid. Often well corroded at the solenoid end, corrosion which creeps down the wire. Causes high resistance/low voltage at solenoid. You say problem more likely to occur when hot? Hot cable is higher resistance?

[burnzdog]

Is there anyway to test the resistance to know whether this the issue. Is it a difficult job to replace?

 

[RogerT]

Electrickery isn’t my strong point. However I took my guidance from Covkid who I think originally posted about this issue, that the original wiring was barely up to scratch, and likely to have deteriorated, and Oldiebutgoodie who had a link to the effect of reduced voltage (albeit the effect on headlights).

If I were in your position I’d remove the trigger wire from the solenoid and see how far back you have to go to get clean shiny bright copper. Anything less than that will be sucking volts.

[burnzdog]

OK will have a look but did clean it up previously when I changed starter motor.

[ScienceBoy]

Or maybe a wiring issue? You haven’t mentioned replacing the trigger wire to the solenoid. Often well corroded at the solenoid end, corrosion which creeps down the wire. Causes high resistance/low voltage at solenoid. You say problem more likely to occur when hot? Hot cable is higher resistance?

Does this happen gradually or all of a sudden. Ours has just failed. Just the click. Worked perfectly a week or so ago.

[burnzdog]

Well it started after engine was replaced.

[Stesaw]

Perhaps either dodgy terminal connector on the solenoid, solenoid itself, or as others have said the bush in the bell housing.

[burnzdog]

Yep going to change bush when I get a chance to do it. I remeber it being an absolute ballache to take out.