starter motor 2.1 dj

[mark]

hello my oily handed brethren

I have a problem with my starter motor which I suspect needs replacing, what I have is all the idiot lights present and correct and behaving accordingly. I have 12.76 volts from the battery, lights main beam fading/off when starter engaged, a loud click from the solenoid, the ecu is priming the fuel pump and giving the go ahead. I've cleaned the connections to the solenoid and reconnected including the exciter offof the alternator. it normally fires first turn cold or hot.

in last week we have travelled over 900 miles including two 10hr trips to and from Cornwall, while away it refused to start a couple of times but fired with the second turn.

have I missed anything obvious offof the check list? and should I just get on with ordering a new un from mr baxter

thanks in advance for any help or pointers

mark

[kevtherev]

Do you hear the click and stop trying to crank, or have you tried to hold the key in the cranking position even after the click?

My DJ does this occasionally, but holding the key in the crank position for a second or two longer sees the motor crank the engine.

[California Dreamin]

I have a problem with my starter motor which I suspect needs replacing, what I have is all the idiot lights present and correct and behaving accordingly. I have 12.76 volts from the battery, lights main beam fading/off when starter engaged, a loud click from the solenoid, the ecu is priming the fuel pump and giving the go ahead

If you have 12.76 volts at the main starter solenoid 'threaded post' that is good but what do you actually have 'cranking' (or non cranking in this case. What matters are the readings you get 'under load'.. these will give you an indication of how good the feed and earths are.

I wouldn't be ordering a new starter until I was sure of:

Earth points: gearbox, engine & battery.
Feeds; solenoid, braided cable between solenoid and starter body, battery and the solenoid switch wire.
Ignition switch...does it make any difference if you move the key back and forth when in the 'crank position'.

Martin

[mark]

tried holding it over........... no joy

thanks

mark

Do you hear the click and stop trying to crank, or have you tried to hold the key in the cranking position even after the click?

My DJ does this occasionally, but holding the key in the crank position for a second or two longer sees the motor crank the engine.

[mark]

thanks for the reply ..........this is what I have
at the battery 12.76volts, at the post non crank 12.4volts, cranking position (ignition switch turned with key) 11.7 volts, this was between the solenoid pole and the engine earth strap, albeit with me half expecting the bugger to fire up while I was lain prone across the engine , battery earth strap and gearbox earth strap are in good condition as is the engine earth strap. there is no difference in rocking the key at any position.

buy a new un?

cheers mark

If you have 12.76 volts at the main starter solenoid 'threaded post' that is good but what do you actually have 'cranking' (or non cranking in this case. What matters are the readings you get 'under load'.. these will give you an indication of how good the feed and earths are.

I wouldn't be ordering a new starter until I was sure of:

Earth points: gearbox, engine & battery.
Feeds; solenoid, braided cable between solenoid and starter body, battery and the solenoid switch wire.
Ignition switch...does it make any difference if you move the key back and forth when in the 'crank position'.

Martin

[California Dreamin]

Strange....the voltage drop clearly indicates some amp draw in the crank position, so given earths and feeds are all sound the conclusion would be solenoid (main internal contacts) are badly eroded or the armature to brush contacts are poor (either brushes are worn out or there are one or more dead segments).

If you are happy with the checks you have carried out then a new starter is beginning to sound like the right decision. think about replacing the oilite bush (if petrol starter) these do wear oval and can give slow cranking.

Martin

[mark]

thanks

I doubled checked everything I was hoping that i'd missed summat

cheers mark

[California Dreamin]

The braided wire between the solenoid and starter body is also a favorite....the wire just turns to dust.

Martin

[mark]

even that is good .............. ordered a new one

cheers mark

The braided wire between the solenoid and starter body is also a favorite....the wire just turns to dust.

Martin

[mark]

replaced the starter today as per the wiki................but if your a 2.1 dj with injectors intact it's so much easier.

remove the amf and air filter box it (really is a five minuet job) and you have access left and right of the starter motor.


the only time I went under the van was to remove the starter and to put it back in place. it could well have been done from above but I didn't fancy dropping it, no need to jack the van up, removing the bush was a pain, mainly because I didn't put enough of the tap into it. the starter was a bugger to get out because the dj engine has a hex bolt with a nut on the end which you cant see until the amf is out of the way. being able to get left and right of the starter meant putting the bush back in was a breeze, set the hex bolt with a nut on it to the depth of the bush and you can hold it in position with one hand and hit the end of the bolt with a hammer, a couple or three taps and reassuring clunk as it hits home, all this stood on my feet.

then the refit which was easy only having to move the drive wheel on the starter a couple of times to line it up with the flywheel (although not in constant contact with the fly wheel it helped) and bolt it up, reconnect the wires to the starter and the earth to battery terminal and ready for the big turn on.


leggit he's gonna start it.



tadar...........first go........roars back to life


all back together.


the offending items.........ive edited the title to make it more search friendly


mark

[kevtherev]

are you having the shagged one repaired?

[mark]

because of the postage costs and the faffing around with sending it back for what amounts to about a tenner im going to keep it for now...............why? you collecting heavy bits of tat

mark

[kevtherev]

because of the postage costs and the faffing around with sending it back for what amounts to about a tenner im going to keep it for now...............why? you collecting heavy bits of tat

mark

If you were binning it I was going to ask you for it.

[mark]

ok you can have it if you've got a use for it........... ill bring to Busfest ...............but remind me nearer the time..........maybe this should be a pm mr baxter will be after it

mark

[danmetallic]

Do you hear the click and stop trying to crank, or have you tried to hold the key in the cranking position even after the click?

My DJ does this occasionally, but holding the key in the crank position for a second or two longer sees the motor crank the engine.

Hi Kev, I have exactly your issue as quoted above. Do you know the cause? Slow or no crank then suddenly takes hold. Subsequent starts straight after are fine and dandy.

I spent the morning replacing the ignition switch thinking it might be that but still the same behaviour.