Club 80-90 Forums

I've just been out in my van, 1.6TD and came home and 2 mins later went to start up and nothing! Everything seemed normal and the start up proceedure was the same but when turning the key nowt happened. All battery connections are ok, lights, radio blower etc all ok but no start up. Anyone know why?

T25 starter motors are known to suffer from problems as they get older. Probably the same as on other vehicles.

Iirc there can be two problems that can occur. One is the solenoid sticking but if you can hear a click when the ignition key is turned then it isn't that.

The other is wear/sagging of the shaft & this results in the starter not engaging properly. If I had my Haynes manual at hand I could the above in more technical jargon.

might be a sticky solenoid...give the starter a clack wi' hammer


or properly remove the starter and dismantle the solly to smear some copper slip in the solenoid bore

If you are not getting any click from the starter area, Before you go taking things off, have a crawl under and check the signal wire from the ignition switch hasnt corroded and dropped off the solenoid connection, this is very common, more so on the older aircolds, but common all the same..... also check there is a signal in this wire by getting an operative to turn the key
(Make sure its out of gear and your fingers are out of the way) whilst you check for voltage on this wire.- it could just be the switch- try "wiggling" the key around whilst trying to start it.

Thanks chaps, it is the lead on the starter motor, after a bit if wiggling about it started ok. The connector thingy needs replacing as it is a bit corroded so that will get done this morning as there is a big yellow thing in the sky.

terrier wrote:will get done this morning as there is a big yellow thing in the sky.

thank goodness you see it too, I thought I was hallucinating!

kevtherev wrote:

terrier wrote:will get done this morning as there is a big yellow thing in the sky.

thank goodness you see it too, I thought I was hallucinating!

Well, Reverend Jones, I hope you remembered to thank your boss for the good weather!