Club 80-90 Forums

My van is simply just refusing to start! Is it the starter motor or could it be something else.

Hang I'll get my crystal ball!

I thought you had two!!

Yes ~ it's the starter motor or something else

Hairy not crystal.

K

Behai

I think the kindest thing to say is that (we) need lots more detail about your pride and joy and details of what happens as you turn the key...lets start at the begining...

They're not hairy!

All I can tell you is that when the key turns there is nothing, the instrument panel lights up as normal. It will start on a push start, a friend was fidling with the starter motor and it was whirring round but just not starting the engine.

lets start again,,,,,,
what engine is it?
do the lights dim when you turn the key?
does the engine turn over or does nothing happen at all?

essential info for those in the know to make even the crudest diagnosis

It is a 1.6td

The lights do not dim at all when the key is turned

The engine does not turn over at all

ok so presuming the battery has plenty of life in it, it's either the ignition switch thats possibly gone faulty or the switch wire at the starter end has either furred up or dropped off. have a look at the starter and you'll see the solenoid on the side of it with 2 large connectors and one very much smaller. (the two large ones are held on with nuts and the smaller one could be either held with a tiny nut or could be a spade connection.)
when you turn the key to the start position it should put 12v onto the small wire which then energises a magnet inside it and pulls the solenoid in supplying 12v direct from the battery to the starter (it joins the 2 on the solenoid together)
so if there is no 12v down the small wire when in start position the fault is between there and the ign switch. if there is 12v and the connection to the solenoid is clean then the solenoid is suspect.

before checking anything, make sure the earth strap is connected between the body and the gearbox as if thats come off it will have the same effect.

Thankyou very much for your help I will try these out tonight.

Cheers.