Starting Issues - Maybe Starter ?

[Kace]

I've been having intermittent issues with the car not starting immediately for the last 6 months or so, but it has always started eventually - I just sit there trying it over and over until it eventually starts.

When I go to start the car up - there is literally nothing. Batt gauge reads a solid 12v, which when turning the key dropped slightly to maybe 10-11 but nothing else happened. No clicking, no sounds like the car was even attempting to turn over, just silence...
All the electrics still work, lights/radio/aircon/alarm etc, suggesting that the battery is fine but i'm not ruling anything out!

This leads me to think that it is most likely a starter motor seizing or dirty, but I'm not certain yet.

I've heard that tapping the starter motor may works - but this doesn't sound like a very long-term solution.

Anyway - does anyone have a pic of the starter motor underneath the car so that I know what I'm hitting ?

- Anyone know of a guy who recons them, or should I just take it off and give it a brush up myself ?

[Muad_dib77]

I don't have a piture of it - but I can confirm that if you tap a siezed up start it's prone to start working - however it is a short term solution only..

After a couple of months this too will stop working - and you will be force to replace the starter unit.

Replacing a starter unit usually only invoves removing a plug and 4 bolts.
The most complicated bit is reaching around corners and fiddling with spanners.

[Kace]

OK - thanks. As I say I have been having the problem intermittently probably for a year now, but it is starting to become more regular and is getting to the annoying stage.

Is it under the right hand side or left had side of the engine block as you look from the front ?

What does it look like ?

KC

[soc]

OK - thanks. As I say I have been having the problem intermittently probably for a year now, but it is starting to become more regular and is getting to the annoying stage.

Is it under the right hand side or left had side of the engine block as you look from the front ?

What does it look like ?

KC

I had this on my 205gti - just a very faint clicking and nothing else - the bushes in the motor were worn and it would jam. Stranded me one night when 'tapping" no longer worked. I'd advice replacing

[CJ]

Is it under the right hand side or left had side of the engine block as you look from the front ?

What does it look like ?

Its on the RHS, cylindrical yoke. My advise is bring it to an autoelectrican, most likely needs refurbishment.

Note that hitting the starter with a hammer to loosen it should only be done when its stuck solid and the car can't be started. This does not always work btw...

CJ

[Kace]

Yeah - I got the name of a refurb sparky from Paul Nolan some months ago. Just need to dig it up and see if the guy can do a refurb for me at some stage.

[kevinod]

Sounds like what happens when I don't turn my immobiliser off properly, all electrics work fine, but it doesn't even try to turnover. You got an immobiliser?

[Kace]

Yeah - I do, but in order to get my car to even engage the battery I need to disable the immobiliser using the special fob. I do this before I insert key and then turn. Immobiliser re-engages after 20 secs - so I have to wait this amount of time before I try and start it again.

After about 10 times doing this the car eventually starts. Not 100% sure, but I'm still leaning towards a starter motor problem as opposed to immobiliser.

[kevinod]

Cool... I have a similar immobiliser on mine too, and one of the fobs went bad. For a while every now and again the car wouldn't start the first time, and at the time I just thought I hadn't turned it off properly, not paying enough attention or something. Eventually it stopped working altogether, but the other fob is working ok.

If you have a spare fob it might be interesting to try using that instead for a bit, it would rule out the fob you're using if nothing else.