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Discussion
As you might remember, I've just replaced my X flow in my Westie with a reconditioned unit. I have an odd starting fault.
1 time out of 5 upon turning the key, the engine will turn over frantically (i.e. normally). However, 4 times out of 5 it will barely turn over, doing 1 rev every second or two and pausing in between (not enough to start the engine with)
This is very random. i.e. I can turn the engine over on the key and it will be very slow. I can stop, then instantly try again and it will spin fast. I can stop, and yet again instantly try again, and it will be back to being slow again.
More often than not it will be slow, for example in Halfords carpark on Saturday it just would not start, and I ended up begging a bump start from someone !
I've cleaned and replaced every connector to no avail. I've taken two jump leads directly from the battery to the starter, and it does the same thing (so that discounts all wiring, solenoid or earthing problems).
The alternator is charging the (small, race) battery at 14v. At rest after running the battery holds 13v, dropping to 12.8v overnight
When cranking, if the engine is turning normally then the battery drops to 11.5v. If the engine is doing it's go slow act, then the battery drops to 10.5v !!
Is this the battery or the starter motor ?!?
1 time out of 5 upon turning the key, the engine will turn over frantically (i.e. normally). However, 4 times out of 5 it will barely turn over, doing 1 rev every second or two and pausing in between (not enough to start the engine with)
This is very random. i.e. I can turn the engine over on the key and it will be very slow. I can stop, then instantly try again and it will spin fast. I can stop, and yet again instantly try again, and it will be back to being slow again.
More often than not it will be slow, for example in Halfords carpark on Saturday it just would not start, and I ended up begging a bump start from someone !
I've cleaned and replaced every connector to no avail. I've taken two jump leads directly from the battery to the starter, and it does the same thing (so that discounts all wiring, solenoid or earthing problems).
The alternator is charging the (small, race) battery at 14v. At rest after running the battery holds 13v, dropping to 12.8v overnight
When cranking, if the engine is turning normally then the battery drops to 11.5v. If the engine is doing it's go slow act, then the battery drops to 10.5v !!
Is this the battery or the starter motor ?!?
Unfortunately I dont have another one to pop in, otherwise I'd have tried that. Ditto the battery.
Just confuses me when the starter was working fine before I took the engine out last time ..... plus it works fine sometimes anyway (when it feels like it)
Wonder how much a new starter is .....
Just confuses me when the starter was working fine before I took the engine out last time ..... plus it works fine sometimes anyway (when it feels like it)
Wonder how much a new starter is .....
Hi Nev,
Life's never easy is it? Might be worth having your starter checked by friendly local auto electrics specialist/reconditioners (see Yellow Pages). They might be able to identify any fault and should certainly be able to recondition it for far less than the price of a new one.
Life's never easy is it? Might be worth having your starter checked by friendly local auto electrics specialist/reconditioners (see Yellow Pages). They might be able to identify any fault and should certainly be able to recondition it for far less than the price of a new one.
Hi Nev,
Life's never easy is it? Might be worth having your starter checked by friendly local auto electrics specialist/reconditioners (see Yellow Pages). They might be able to identify any fault and should certainly be able to recondition it for far less than the price of a new one.
Life's never easy is it? Might be worth having your starter checked by friendly local auto electrics specialist/reconditioners (see Yellow Pages). They might be able to identify any fault and should certainly be able to recondition it for far less than the price of a new one.
grahambell said: Hi Nev,
Life's never easy is it?
{sigh} Tell me about it ... the starter motor is the least of my problems however, see my other post about "she lives" ... I now appear to have a head gasket problem on a freshly rebuilt engine ! ..... so I'm calling in on the engine builders tonight ....
Hi Nev,
Ain't life a t
t? Sounds like you're getting more than your share of crap at the moment.
Had another thought about the starter motor. Old memory finally worked and remembered something similar on my Mk 1 Capri. Turns out the screws holding the front of the starter had come loose, allowing the front, plus bearing, to drop so that the internals were actually running on the body! Quick realignment and tighten and job was sorted. Worth checking.
Hope you get some better luck soon.
Ain't life a t
t? Sounds like you're getting more than your share of crap at the moment. Had another thought about the starter motor. Old memory finally worked and remembered something similar on my Mk 1 Capri. Turns out the screws holding the front of the starter had come loose, allowing the front, plus bearing, to drop so that the internals were actually running on the body! Quick realignment and tighten and job was sorted. Worth checking.
Hope you get some better luck soon.
Sounds suspiciously like my Locost and it's starter problems.
Does this happen when the engine is hot, and has maybe been standing a little while?
I finally found the problem after spinning in practice at Donnington and having the embarrassment of being towed back to the pits because it wouldn't restart on it's own.
I checked the alternator, fully charged the battery etc. etc. and even changed the starter motor (inertia type). Finally solved the problem by ducting some air from outside the car (2" hole in the alu. just behind the front wishbones and a length of flexible hose from Raceparts) directly onto the starter motor. No more starter problems since (and this is using the same starter which was giving me the problems initially).
Seems the heat from the block soaks into the starter and causes it to expand enough to stop it turning (the standard FoMoCo inertia starter is not reknowned for it's turning strength anyway).
EDIT: I have a brand new Bosch starter you could try if you need it, I'm in Wilts. (not far from Swindon).
>> Edited by Mark Benson on Friday 6th June 11:58
Does this happen when the engine is hot, and has maybe been standing a little while?
I finally found the problem after spinning in practice at Donnington and having the embarrassment of being towed back to the pits because it wouldn't restart on it's own.
I checked the alternator, fully charged the battery etc. etc. and even changed the starter motor (inertia type). Finally solved the problem by ducting some air from outside the car (2" hole in the alu. just behind the front wishbones and a length of flexible hose from Raceparts) directly onto the starter motor. No more starter problems since (and this is using the same starter which was giving me the problems initially).
Seems the heat from the block soaks into the starter and causes it to expand enough to stop it turning (the standard FoMoCo inertia starter is not reknowned for it's turning strength anyway).
EDIT: I have a brand new Bosch starter you could try if you need it, I'm in Wilts. (not far from Swindon).
>> Edited by Mark Benson on Friday 6th June 11:58
Mark, actually I have noticed recently that it's fine when cold, and only REALLY plays up when very hot. You could be on to something there. I've got some spare ducting somewhere .... I'll rig something up to try 
Thanks for the offer. Unfortunately I'm miles away, but thanks for the thought anyway
UPDATE ON HEAD : just an update on my head problems, have spoken to the place that built the engine, and they've been "okay" if understandably cautious about it. I'm going to whip off the head myself this weekend (that's an easier option than transporting the car to them, or taking the engine out again) and drop it off with them to check it hasn't warped, and that it's not cracked. Then they're going to pop round one evening to refit the head to the block in situ. They're also recommending having the radiator tested, but I've got doubts about that myself (?)
Thanks for the offer. Unfortunately I'm miles away, but thanks for the thought anyway
UPDATE ON HEAD : just an update on my head problems, have spoken to the place that built the engine, and they've been "okay" if understandably cautious about it. I'm going to whip off the head myself this weekend (that's an easier option than transporting the car to them, or taking the engine out again) and drop it off with them to check it hasn't warped, and that it's not cracked. Then they're going to pop round one evening to refit the head to the block in situ. They're also recommending having the radiator tested, but I've got doubts about that myself (?)
Mark Benson said: Sounds suspiciously like my Locost and it's starter problems.
Does this happen when the engine is hot, and has maybe been standing a little while?
I finally found the problem after spinning in practice at Donnington and having the embarrassment of being towed back to the pits because it wouldn't restart on it's own.
I checked the alternator, fully charged the battery etc. etc. and even changed the starter motor (inertia type). Finally solved the problem by ducting some air from outside the car (2" hole in the alu. just behind the front wishbones and a length of flexible hose from Raceparts) directly onto the starter motor. No more starter problems since (and this is using the same starter which was giving me the problems initially).
Seems the heat from the block soaks into the starter and causes it to expand enough to stop it turning (the standard FoMoCo inertia starter is not reknowned for it's turning strength anyway).
EDIT: I have a brand new Bosch starter you could try if you need it, I'm in Wilts. (not far from Swindon).
>> Edited by Mark Benson on Friday 6th June 11:58
Alternatively mate - don't spin
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