Click then nothing - starter motor?

[Janosh]

I'm stuck in Bristol, waiting for the recovery van.

When I turn the key, I can hear a click but nothing else.

Battery is new and 100%

I've tried to swap relays, no help.

Is the starter motor goosed or is there something else that I can try?!

[robbyd]

can you hit it with something heavy? might be stuck...

[vxr2010]

is it the immobiliser put key in ignition and press unlock on the key , other option rock the car in gear

[Mud_]

Where in Bristol are you? Email me if you want me to deliver anything from Halfords, etc.

[vxkev]

won't be immobiliser more likely the solenoid on the starter sticking as said have you got anything heavy to give the starter a knock or put in gear with ignition OFF and rock it from front to back that sometimes frees it

[vxkev]

Also if on a hill free roll it with it in gear and foot on clutch then with the ignition on let clutch out and bump start it

[fred bloggs]

Smack starter with umbrellor. Worked for me.
Next time you can get under it,remove the two bolts holding the starter and give it a good knock against the bellhousing. It shakes the carbon about and frees up the brushes.

[Janosh]

Thanks all, unfortunately I can't bump start as she's an auto.

Heading home on a flatbed now

What a ba$tard getting it onto a flat bed, no tow eye (as far as I can tell) and I didn't want to pull the suspension arms off so 5 of us pushed her up the ramp!

[ArnieVXR]

There is no towing eye on these cars and with the long, low front overhang, they're a bugger to get onto car transporters. I've had to remove the front bumper before.

[snowwolf]

I take it the AA or RAC picked it up, did they not check out what the problem was?

[Janosh]

Recovery guy wired up his leads to rule out a battery issue, then checked relays & fuses but then just offered the flat bed.

If he could get it started (by whacking the starter or similar) there would be no guarantee of us getting home (in the event of needing to stop, the car might not start again).

We got home safely (I have an 11 month old) and the car is at the garage now awaiting a new starter from MF

[robbyd]

I know a local guy who can rebuild any starter, alternator etc. He did mine for 110.00 - full rebuild. Could be an option if you can be without the car for a week? Just off the A3 by Tolworth in fact..

[snowwolf]

Sounds like starter motor just hope its not a loose conection

Janosh said:

Recovery guy wired up his leads to rule out a battery issue, then checked relays & fuses but then just offered the flat bed.

If he could get it started (by whacking the starter or similar) there would be no guarantee of us getting home (in the event of needing to stop, the car might not start again).

We got home safely (I have an 11 month old) and the car is at the garage now awaiting a new starter from MF

[Janosh]

Thanks guys - I've had some battery / starter related issues over the last couple of months and had an autoelectician look over the car a few weeks ago. All earth points, starter contacts, etc were reviewed and replaced where necessary.

It's possible that something has come loose, but more likely that the issues I've had relate back to a dying starter (drawing excess current, laboured hot start). I'm no expert so just making a sensible guess.

My car has a cam which I've been told makes it harder to start. Since I've owned it I've never been happy with the way it cranks / starts so hopefully I'll get to the bottom of it.

Quick thanks to James at Elite, answering emails and phone calls on a Sunday to help where possible.

[extra330]

Mine had the same issue 3 months ago.
was an easy fix
The starter motor wiring had come loose,
tightened and all good again, hope yours is as simple

[Janosh]

Update - after a few whacks, the starter did turnover so that we could get the car into the workshop. The lack of towing eye really is a pain.

The startup was getting very lazy (especially when hot) so thanks to Elite and MF I now have a new GM starter motor.

Turn over is more urgent and much stronger so she's fighting fit again

[vxr2010]

i bought two towing straps and bolted one to the monaro and one to the r8 , both bolted at the front , straps were about 7£ delivered

[vxkev]

vxr2010 said:

i bought two towing straps and bolted one to the monaro and one to the r8 , both bolted at the front , straps were about 7£ delivered

Linky please

[Yanayaya]

Janosh said:

I'm stuck in Bristol, waiting for the recovery van.

When I turn the key, I can hear a click but nothing else.

Battery is new and 100%

I've tried to swap relays, no help.

Is the starter motor goosed or is there something else that I can try?!

Mine used to do this, I never actually fixed it. It happened more during the winter though, what I would do is just keep turning the key in quick succession (just from ignition on) and it would eventually start and I have to say it gave me the impression the starter motor was actually stuck you could almost hear it "letting go". Since I no longer take her out during the winter I don't have the problem. I still need to buy a new starter though.

[Janosh]

Yanayaya said:

Mine used to do this, I never actually fixed it. It happened more during the winter though, what I would do is just keep turning the key in quick succession (just from ignition on) and it would eventually start and I have to say it gave me the impression the starter motor was actually stuck you could almost hear it "letting go". Since I no longer take her out during the winter I don't have the problem. I still need to buy a new starter though.

It's made a big difference to mine, over the last few months it's sounded very labored and struggled to fire up, now it whirls to life..... and as an added benefit it now starts with a more pronounced bark