Slow to tun-over: MkII 1800

[911hillclimber]

My daughter's 48K miles Mk2 1800 is very slow to turn-over but then starts perfectly well.

It is not one of those heart stopping 'will it fire' slow turn-over, but close to it. I've fitted a new battery (no change)and cleaned the engine earth to the bulkhead but too cold/difficuly to look deeper.

Are the cars prone to a weakness anywhere in the starting?

I heard a Mk3 the other day sound much the same!

Any thoughts welcome.

Maybe I should just clean all connections and see, but I would expect it to start with some vigor.

Graham.

[rdodger]

We have 2 Mk2 1.8s. Neither turn over quickly, but one does turn over very slowly and then fires no problem. I have done the same as you then stopped worrying about it. I just thought when it stops turning over I would get a new starter motor.

3 years on I am still being suprised by how it fires turning over so slowly!

[neil_bolton]

My 1.6 Mk1 turns over nice and quickly, but Sophies is a real pain, and I'm currently recharging the battery as we speak.

Can't really figure out why, must be an electrical thing.

[911hillclimber]

Thanks for the replies.
Seems it might be 'normal' then.
Just seems so non-japanese engineering to me.

[Pete Franklin]

Have you had a look at the spark plugs? cam cover gasket is quite a common failure and then you can get oil on the plugs, obviously causing difficulty starting.

[911hillclimber]

Pete: this is just the turn-over of the engine by the started as you start the engine, it churns slowly for 3 secs then fires nicely.

Feels as though it is getting 9 volts, not 12.

[Firefox1]

Check the connections at the starter motor, over a long period they build up a coating of verdigris which causes a high resistance reducing the current flowimg to the starter motor.

[911hillclimber]

Sounds good to me. I guess it is right under the car!?

Hope it thaws-out by the weekend.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Firefox1 said:

Check the connections at the starter motor, over a long period they build up a coating of verdigris which causes a high resistance reducing the current flowimg to the starter motor.

Same on the battery connections. Take the battery clamps off and clean the terminals and the clamps themselves then make sure they are clamped on securely. Also, don't put any grease on the terminals...

[911hillclimber]

Have a fresh battery on the car. The Panasonic small Mazda battery that came off looked perfect!

I know it is not the alarm system draining it so it must be a 'lazy' starter/connections.

Bet it is awkward to get at!

[MX-5 Lazza]

911hillclimber said:

Have a fresh battery on the car. The Panasonic small Mazda battery that came off looked perfect!

Doesn't matter - the clamps might still be gunged up. It's worth cleaning up the clamps and post anyway, just for peace of mind.