Starter Motor HELP!

[Cock Womble 7]

Right, fitted the lovely new Brize starter motor, got the battery all charged up again and went to connect it all up this morning.

As soon as the battery was connected, the starter started whirring away to itself - without the ignition even being on.

So, what have I done wrong?

Have I connected the starter up wrong? A blown fuse somewhere? A bad earth?


Could someone please point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance.

[johnvthe2nd]

sounds like you've connected it straight to the battery and bypassed the solenoid .. does it engage or just whirr?

[Cock Womble 7]

It just whirrs.

Pretty sure I'd connected it up correctly, but I'll have another look after work.

Cheers.

[johnvthe2nd]

just checked (sorry if I'm teaching you how to suck eggs .. this is how mine is connected ) .. the solenoid has 2 large terminals, one is connected to the starter with a really short wire, the other is connected directly to the battery with a big read lead. when these 2 are connected up, nothing should happen! There is then another (red in a black sleeve, but this may be gone by now) which is connected to a spade terminal on the solenoid. (if you disconnect this, does it still whirr - if it does, either the red lead from the battery is connected to the same side of the solenoid as the starter, or the solenoid isn't working)

what sort of doesn't make sense is that it is whirring and not engaging, this on its own would suggest that the bendix is stuck ..

[Cock Womble 7]

johnvthe2nd said:

this on its own would suggest that the bendix is stuck ..

But it's brand new (and not cheap either)!

[johnvthe2nd]

yeah i know .. and a Brise one to boot, you don't seem to be having much luck with this .. check the wires and ring them I guess .. post a photo ..

[Cock Womble 7]

johnvthe2nd said:

yeah i know .. and a Brise one to boot, you don't seem to be having much luck with this .. check the wires and ring them I guess .. post a photo ..

I am 100% certain I connected it up exactly as you described - mainly because there's really no other way to do it!

I would go down and have another look/post a picture, but the heavens have just opened.

[robmlufc]

Have you tried giving it a cheeky tap? Still doesn't explain why its motoring when simply connected up!

[VHPD]

Hope you get sorted CW7.
Especially as I recommended Brise

[Cock Womble 7]

robmlufc said:

Have you tried giving it a cheeky tap?

I don't want to start mullering a £275 starter motor, especially one I may have to send back!

[johnvthe2nd]

has it stopped raining yet?

[Cock Womble 7]

johnvthe2nd said:

has it stopped raining yet?

Yes, it's stopped raining.

It's gone from "raining" to "chucking it down".

[robmlufc]

Cock Womble 7 said:

I don't want to start mullering a £275 starter motor, especially one I may have to send back!

There is a subtle difference between mullering and a calibrated tap!

Hope you get it sorted anyway! Did you try calling them?

[Cock Womble 7]

robmlufc said:

Hope you get it sorted anyway! Did you try calling them?

I haven't had a chance to get under and check the wiring, or give it a judicious tap what with work and everything. Should be able to do this on Friday.

[johnvthe2nd]

did you get it sorted out .. or, has it stopped raining yet?

[Cock Womble 7]

johnvthe2nd said:

did you get it sorted out?

Yes. What happened was that being an expert mechanic I (obviously) wired up the starter motor correctly, but then during the night someone snuck under the car and swapped the wires over.

That is the only plausible explanation.








Yep, I cocked up. All sorted now, but the battery is beyond help. New one on order.