Starter motor diagnosis?

[anucat]

Hi all,

Need a bit of advice. My CX 25 RI Familiale was parked up for a week during some pretty heavy rain and wouldn't start this morning. Battery apparently fine but no turn over from starter motor at all. Just a click each time the ignition key was turned.

I got the jump leads out and started it pretty quick from the running engine of my Mazda. Car then fine as I ran a couple of errands - started twice more under it's own steam as usual.

I then took it to the car wash and couldn't start afterwards. Wheeled it round to a little garage, they couldn't jump start it, and after getting under the car and tapping the starter motor while I turned the key, the mechanic shrugged and said I needed a new starter motor.

I've left it parked up in the street for now and will see if it starts tomorrow. If it does I'll assume it's an electrical problem possibly related to water ingress.

If it is the starter motor is it easy to replace ie just case of removing bolts and swapping over? And anybody got a cheap replacement to sell me?


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[citronut]

just try attaching a length of wire to the starter solenoid blade connector, then touch the other end to the live terminal of the battery,

if you still just get clicking it is probably the starter brushes worn down or stuck,

this test will also eliminate the rest of the circuit between the ignition switch and starter solenoid

where are you located

[anucat]

Thanks Citronut. I'm in SE London. Have sourced a £30 recon motor so a cheap mistake at worst if it is the connections at fault instead.

I think it is the starter motor because there is an audible single click on each ignition which I assume is coming from the motor? - ie suggesting there is a connection btwn battery and motor.


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[citronut]

the click is usually the solenoid trying to throw in/power up,

before you remove the old starter try just wiggling the low tension ( small wire ) going to the spade terminal on the starter solenoid,

[anucat]

Citronut is the connector you're talking about at the starter motor itself or nearer the battery? By solenoid do you mean the starter motor?

I got the starter motor replaced but still having issues. Now it always starts but not always first time. Last night for example I had the key turn-dash lights on - click routine twice and then on the third turn of the key it fired into life.

I guess it's either a dodgy connector or tired battery. How many connections are there to check between battery and starter motor?


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[2smv627]

Hi, make sure your battery leads are good/nice and tight, check the connection of the solenoid wire (usually red terminal) that runs up towards the battery with the battery lead. You could also check the voltage coming from the ignition switch to the solenoid feed - we have in the past fitted a relay between the switch and solenoid to make sure it has a good voltage feed. If you short the little wire that feeds the solenoid onto the +ve of the battery (making sure its not in gear ) and it still plays up you know its the starter side of the connection.

[citronut]

the wire i mention is the spade terminal at the starter/solenoid,

the solenoid is mounted on top of the starter motor, its the smaller cylindrical unit atatched to and on top of the starter motor body,

it has a heavy duty cable attached with a 13mm nut=permanent live from the battery, and a small gauge spade terminal= solenoid feed from the ignition switch,

maybe the ignition switch contacts are burned/dirty

[citronut]

Hi, make sure your battery leads are good/nice and tight, .

not so tight that the you stretch the terminal, resulting in no gap between the jaws of the terminal though,

if there already is no gap, remove the terminal from the battery, remove the pinch bolt from said terminal, file the two matting surface's, sa once the terminal is fitted and tightened up there is a gap between the jaw surface's

we have in the past fitted a relay between the switch and solenoid to make sure it has a good voltage feed.

i dont see the need for this as it is only low tension, besides that the solenoid in its self is like a very heavy duty relay

[anucat]

Thanks for all the advice on this. In the end it was a dodgy battery. It was new but drained right down prior to new alternator being fitted. Obviously just couldn't hold enough charge though I suspect there's still an undiagnosed drain on it.


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