Starter motor

[monkeyboysee]

Hi all,

we had our first "test" run this weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it!! the only downside (apart from the water leak when it peed down) was having to push start the first time we stopped! we had full power etc but no clicking sound etc from the starter until i remembered how to bump!

it didn't happen again all trip, we stopped and started maybe 20-30 times.

my other half has just gone away with the kids and its happened twice, whats the best solution, replace the starter motor?

cheers

[1664]

Start by checking/cleaning the connections at the starter and solenoid and your earths at the battery and gearbox/chassis, You don't want to pay out for a starter if it's just a dirty/rusty connection

[Tony Tone]

Make sure you check the bolts that pass through the starter motor are tight and giving a good earth too

[monkeyboysee]

thanks guys.

while i was on my back trying to find the starter motor, i noticed we have a small oil leak, oil has spread across the bottom of the engine etc, could this have affected it in some way?

[1664]

doubt it

[monkeyboysee]

ok, the only terminal i have touched in any way has been the -ve on the car battery, i'll check that to make sure it is tight etc. is there anyway of checking, or is it suck and see?

[ghost123uk]

Just tighten it up and check the battery -ve lead to body (earth) connection is good while you are there.

btw, when checking the big connections (and the small one) on the top / front of the Stater Motor TAKE THE +ve LEAD OFF THE BATTERY ! - This is very important because space is limited around the starter and if your spanner touches any metal whilst on the connectors a serious and dangerous short circuit can occur.

[monkeyboysee]

is there anyway of checking a good earth, ie with a multimeter?

it sounds daft, but where is the starter motor? when we "broke down", i checked in the engine compartment and underneath, both sides but couldn't see it.

[1664]

is there anyway of checking a good earth, ie with a multimeter?

it sounds daft, but where is the starter motor? when we "broke down", i checked in the engine compartment and underneath, both sides but couldn't see it.

If you mean battery/chassis, best way of checking the earth is visually as a multimeter is too weak to give it a test equivalent to the current draw of a starter. Make sure not loose, frayed or rusted. If in doubt, remove, clean and reconnect or replace if totally junk.

The starter (on a RHD petrol) is on the drivers side low down around about driveshaft area (ish - I don't visit it much), looks a bit like an old fashioned dynamo

[monkeyboysee]

i haven't had chance to do anything yet, just tried to start the van as its not been fired up for over a week; ignition light on, slight click but no fure up, does that sound like earth or starter motor?

[Nicola&Tony]

it sounds daft, but where is the starter motor? when we "broke down", i checked in the engine compartment and underneath, both sides but couldn't see it.

Some photos on p.2 of this old thread which might help you:
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=34628" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tony

[monkeyboysee]

thanks all, just had the battery checked (free at ATS), battery dead! luckily, i've got a spare that helen (LMS) gave us, so thats gone on, fired up first time, biiiig relief!

hopefully that might have been the cause of the bumpstart requirements, fingers crossed.

thanks for all the help guys.

[The passenger]

if you think your starter is the prob it could be that it got stuck, it happened to me last week so hit it with a rod and hammer and this got it moving again. i have been told that if you dont have anthing to hit it with you can put it in gear and have someone else rock the van from side to side and this can dislodge it as well. this might have been what happend to you when you bumped it. if it happens again hit the starter with a hammer. the starter is located above and to the right of the gear box you cant see it from the engine bay stright away, when looking at the engine from the inspection hatch it is at the far side and you have to move the two big black air pipes that run along the back it is behind there and a bit off center to the right. thats in a 1.9 petrol rhd

good luck
grib

[monkeyboysee]

cheers mate,

i've found the starter motor at last, but believ it or not the air hoses are missing a piece in each, that explains why the heater doesn't work!

its got quite a bit of surface rust, as has the earth so a good clean is probably overdue, i'll try to find the time hwne i can to get the wire brush on it, and possibly drill anew earth hole?

cheers

[Nicola&Tony]

i've found the starter motor at last . . . its got quite a bit of surface rust, as has the earth so a good clean is probably overdue, i'll try to find the time hwne i can to get the wire brush on it, and possibly drill anew earth hole?

The earth from the nose of the gearbox? Probably won't need to drill a new hole. Just get a wire brush for your drill (like this one) and use it around the existing hole:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/24mm-ROTARY-W ... 43a9137f88" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Maybe a new earth strap as well ( e.g. plastic coated / braided one):
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BATTERY-CABLE ... 416134370a" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I wouldn't worry about surface rust on the body of the starter, but disconnect the cables to the starter and clean up all the electrical connection points with some emery cloth (or wet and dry paper or a dremmel or small wire brush), especially the spade connection for the thin wire.

Tony