Club 80-90 Forums

Hi,

I've got a 2L Aircooled, that is having trouble starting sometimes. When I turn the key it normally fires up straight away and the starter turns very quickly even if the engine if hot or cold. However sometimes (more and more often) when I turn the key it just makes a click but the starter doesn't turn. It has a new battery and the starter is only about 3 years old without much use.

It's in a garage at the moment and they are saying it needs a new starter motor, does this sound right or could it be something else?

Thanks,
James.

I have that problem, which appears to be a sticking solenoid.
I give it a sharp tap with a hammer, and all is OK.
Problem first appeared after a very cold night camping on Skye, and it seems to be mainly when it is cold that the problem appears.

This problem has come back to haunt me, the night before we were due on the Ferry the starter motor packed up-all it would do is click. The mechanic managed to source at very short notice a replacement but it was a secondhand unit, it worked fine but when I tried to use it at the weekend after nearly a week of being parked up I got the same symptoms as you-just a click.

I am tempted to suggest the soleniod again as its just clicking the relay rather than trying to engage the starter, and mine started ok after trying it a few times-does your? if not how do you get it started? I think I will test for any voltage drop too.

Sounds like a possible voltage drop u have, if u have access to elecy hook up at home try plugging it in overnight and starting it next day if it starts ok then possible battery failure or u have a drain on the system.

I`ve just had the same problem which I have definately sorted.Ifound that if I connected a wire to solenoid and then directly to battery positive,it started every time.When I measured the voltage when connected as norm. it was low at about 6-7volts.Just enough to make the solenoid click but not enough to make a really good contact.The volt drop was occuring in the ignition switch, if you unplug the plug from the ign. switch you can bridge the thich cables and get the starter motor to go.That will prove the switch.Itried to get into the switch but with no luck,but having belted it with a hammer (the casing) the prob is fixed.Mine is a t25 1.9TD.
Hope this helps..

'Bwana John' has the most likely solution, and this

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=46220" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

topic has a good diagram and some useful info. Take a look.
Mike

Might also be worth checking the bolt that secures the starter battery Earth to Chassis, it relies on the thread and this corrodes giving a poor earth. Mine sheared it was so corroded.

change the starter bush