Club 80-90 Forums

Our trusty Westy has developed a new and interesting fault - the starter motor has begun to stay on after use. After each crank, the motor continues to turn for around 10 seconds, even after the engine starts or the key is removed from the ignition completely. Any ideas where I should start looking? Ignition switch? Dodgy relay somewhere? It's a 1.6TD.

Any help would be much appreciated, as we're a long way from home and want the van to get us back there again!

No ideas?

Does anyone at least know how much harm it'll do to have the starter carry on turning for a while after the engine fires? It doesn't seem too bad as long as you don't rev the engine until the starter stops turning...

No ideas?

OK......... I was waiting for someone with more knowledge than this old codger........ but my guess would be that the solenoid is tending to stick, or the return spring for the solenoid is weak/damaged/broken.

The feed from the ignition switch energises the solenoid which makes an internal contact which then supplies the main current to the starter itself.
(Are you still with me?) Even when the ignition key is released from the start position and the feed to the solenoid is cut, unless the spring pushes the solenoid back to the off position, the internal contacts will continue to supply the starter motor.
Crawl underneath with a multimeter while someone operates the starter, and all will become clearer. i.e. is the feed from the ignition switch cut off when the key is released.

Does anyone at least know how much harm it'll do to have the starter carry on turning for a while after the engine fires? It doesn't seem too bad as long as you don't rev the engine until the starter stops turning...

I understand that there is an override clutch device which protects the starter from damage if it remains engaged, and adopting the method you are currently using Should get you home.

Mike

Nice one Mike - that makes a lot of sense, and sounds like something I can deal with when we get home. Thanks for your help.

Puts me in mind of a time when I was heading South in France, dark late(ish) and I stopped for petrol near the Loire valley in my much loved 1600 Bay.
Having topped up the tank, I got in, turned the key and... Click........Click.

Fortunately, in typical French fashion, there was a bar next to the filling station.

So I poked my head in and asked if two or three able bodied fellas would be willing to give me a push start.

Job done...... easy peasy.... back to the bar....... bought all the helpers a drink, and just the demi pression for me, leaving the Bay ticking over near the pumps.
Said my thanks and farewells, and continued through the night to my house, never daring to stop the engine again, until I got home.
I parked on a slope, ready for a rolling attempt at a start the next day, but surprise, surprise, it started first turn of the key, and has done to this day.
But the next time I passed the same filling station/bar just a few months later, it was derelict, leaving me wondering if it was all just a dream.

If only everything in life was as reliable as a VW!!

Mike

horns,
When you have a go at your starter, this thread is well worth a look, great pictures too, thanks to Tony.

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... 8&start=15" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Mike