Starter motor loose connection

[Emma&Al]

Hello,
I went to collect my van at the garage today, after having a fuel leak identified and fixed.
I cycled 40 minutes to get there to then be told that the van hadn't started...and then asked 'I hope you have a knack of starting it?!'

So I went outside, sure, I said, its the automatic gearstick switch thingy that needs cleaning..I have to 'wiggle it when it's in N' and it starts fine.
To no avail. I sat there for 10 minutes trying to start it whilst one of the guys at the garage just looked at me.

Eventually the nicer mechanic came out and said I don't actually think it's the switch, I think it might be the starter motor (I had a new one fitted 6 months back).
He was right, he got under the van and started it, but said it has a loose connection.

Can I do something about this myself? Im familiar with where the starter motor is and think I can access it without having to raise the van, because I have no means of doing this where I live.

Thanks all , Emma

[CovKid]

Yeah, 10 to 1 its the small spade connection. You may get away with gently squeezing the spade once you've pulled it off, then refit. If its foobarred, just fit another connector. You should just about be able to crawl under there. Common fault.

[Smcknighty]

Interestingly my previous starter (I suspect original 1982) had both connections as screw on rings. The step backwards to spade connectors was a productivity improvement afterwards - quicker to connect when building at factory I reckon but with the side effect of lower reliability

[Emma&Al]

Brilliant! Thank you! Sounds like something I can do myself

[ghost123uk]

Just a word of caution. The starter motor has a fat cable on it that is always live with 12 Volts direct from your battery. This can't give you a shock, but if you decide to tighten it up a bit (etc) with a spanner, it's easy in that tight space to let the spanner also touch some other metal. This can cause a dangerously powerful short circuit. Easy solution = temporarily take off the +ve (live / red) connector off your main battery. When you have finished working, don't forget to re-connect it

[ghost123uk]

If its foobarred, just fit another connector

If foobarred, connector, (known as a 1/4 Lucar female connector) available from all "Motor world" type places =



That then really needs soldering to a new short bit of wire. If you can't solder it, make as good a job of crimping it as you can and then preferably cover it with a bit of heat shrink (Maplins etc) or similar (electrical tape if nowt else available).

Then the end of that new bit of wire needs connecting to the existing wire (which may need cutting back a bit until you find decent clean & bright copper wire).

Connector (known generally as a 5 Amp choccy block connector strip, or terminal strip) to connect the short new bit of wire to the existing wire =



Again, from the Motor world type shop.

[shepster]

The mechanics at the Garage could have sorted this for you surely?

[Emma&Al]

Shepster..you would think so, wouldnt you? He just got the van started but then just left me to drive home.

Thanks Ghost, that's all really helpful advice there

[Smcknighty]

It makes you jump when it shorts as well

[Smcknighty]

I would actually undo the earth first then the positive - reason being I have also managed to short from the positive terminal to the side of the engine bay when undoing the positive terminal - also makes you jump. Then put positive on first before earth

[CovKid]

That is correct. I was always taught, earth lead first, reconnect last.

[Emma&Al]

Thanks all.
Well, it's not started up again since I got it back from the garage This has been my first day off work and I was going to attempt to sort the starter motor but its hideous out!

[marlinowner]

Once the earth is disconnected, disconnecting the +ve serves no purpose.

[Smcknighty]

It's nice out here?

[Emma&Al]

It' stopped raining...so im going outside to look. Wish me luck! Im a bit nervous, I've not done anything with a starter motor before - just hope I can even find it?!!