When I'm starting my bus it sounds like a car trying to start with a flat battery, Is this normal?
Some times the 'eek eek' only lasts for 1-2 secs but it can last up to 10 secs...not making a difference if the engine is hot or cold. ( I drove it for about 2 hours, turned the engine off, then started it back up again and it took just under 10 to start up)
Check the exciter lead on the starter first - give it a bloody good clean up with a wire brush (terminal and lead) - the starter bush is a fag to do, as you've gotta drill it out of the bellhousing - all for a 50p bush too
from my limited experience of the starter bush, if its on the way out the van will either start or it wont, not turn over slowly. Go electrical route first would be my guess.
If I'm teaching grandmother to suck eggs etc then please ignore this
Do you know if your timing and fuel system are all in good order? If not,check them out; if so, I hope the following is of some use:
You used the term "eek eek" to describe what was happening on starting your van. Eek eek is not the term I'd use to describe an engine being turned over by the starter, even if the power available to the starter was low. It's more suggestive, as others on this thread have suggested, of the starter not engaging properly with the flywheel. Have you tried someone turning the ignition key while you watch the engine? Is the engine actually turning over when you get the "eek eek" sound? If not, and assuming you've got a decent battery on the thing, this might inidcate that the starter bush is worn or that the flywheel and/or starter pinion teeth are getting that way as well.
I agree completely that you should ensure that all the electrics are right before doing anything else and give it a go with a battery of known ability befoe trying anything else. If the starter fails to turn over the engine once you've eliminated the electrical issues then you need to work out what's wrong with the starter and / or ring gear on the flywheel. There seem to be three potential problems:
1. Is the starter solenoid activating and throwing the pinion towards the flywheel as it should (you should also be aware that although this mechanical movement takes place, the high tension contact that is supposed to occur with it to allow starting current to flow can fail-I know whereof I speak)?
You can test the starter motor off the van with jump leads etc (take care) but if the hi tension connection in the solenoid is gone you need to replace it.
2. Is the bush in the gearbox housing accepting the starter pinion shaft allowing proper accurate engagement of the starter pinion with the flywheel?
3. Are the teeth on the starter pinion and/or flywheel ring gear worn? The engine almost invariably comes to rest in one of four positions, so the starter alway engages with a limited proportion of the flywheel, after much use this can cause a failure, through wear, of the starter pinion to engage with the flywheel.
The reason I'm writing at such length is that this, i think, is what my van suffers from, I have intermittent starting ability. My last reapir to the starter was so emotionally taxing that I've decided to live with it, occasionally I have to pump the clutch, change the gears and rock the vehicle, just to find a bit of cog that still works! Good luck please let us know how yo get on
