Starter motor - click

[NickP]

Got my car back after a month in the shop, driven 250 miles, jumped in it today, turned the key, funny noise click. Not turning over. I replaced the starter motor about 6 years ago and last time I see to recall getting a little bit of warning, i.e it gradually packed up, really miffed was going to drive it to silverstone tomorrow. If anyone has any suggestions before I start ripping out the plenum etc to look I'd be grateful. Have heard issues with immobilsers might cause something like this? The weird noise i hear is like three rapid clicks followed by a louder click, ive not noticed the three quieter clicks before.

 

[conaero]

Its a flat battery Nick. Does the dash blink with the clicking too...classic sign of a flat battery. Where your car has been stood for so long sounds like the batter has gone bad.

Easy and relatively cheap fix

 

[NickP]

It has started ok a few times, left it since monday and then today, drove to town where the local Poles kindly gave me a bump start.... Weird, I'll try charging the battery as was a short trip, got a sneaky feeling its another starter motor job, didn't enjoy it last time, fiddly nuts...

 

[CatmanV2]

Sure sounds like the battery is flat

C

 

[spkennyuk]

A bad earth would discharge the battery or an relay sticking open.

I would charge the battery and then have it tested as your first point of call.

Your other options would be the starter solenoid is clicking but the pinion gear is sticking in the restracted position.

 

[davy83]

sounds like a flat battery, but the starter pinion stuck because its been sitting is possible. On a regular car you could tap it try to break it loose, but no chance of doing that. I would charge overnight or better still 24 hours and like some one said test the battery. If the pinion is sticking it might loosen up with use? Any chance the earth straps that go under the starter mounting bolts at the bell housing have some loose or started to corrode? bad earth might give you the symptoms of a flat battery.

 

[NickP]

Thanks guys will give these things a check

 

[Stewart]

Battery or poss bad earth, if the pinion is stuck it can be freed by putting car is second gear and pushing back and fore.

 

[NickP]

SO charging the battery didn't work, rocking it back and forth in 2nd and 3rd didn't either, so its either a bad earth or the starter has gone (again after 6 years). So I'm going to take it all to bts and have a look, while there I may as well do the knock sensors. At least its still light enough to get some of this done after work.

 

[Boomerang_GT]

Is it about the 3200? These starters usually fail due to water leakage inside the V of the engine. Sorry, could not figure out which model you have.

 

[NickP]

Is it about the 3200? These starters usually fail due to water leakage inside the V of the engine. Sorry, could not figure out which model you have.

Yeah its a 3200..

 

[Contigo]

SO charging the battery didn't work, rocking it back and forth in 2nd and 3rd didn't either, so its either a bad earth or the starter has gone (again after 6 years). So I'm going to take it all to bts and have a look, while there I may as well do the knock sensors. At least its still light enough to get some of this done after work.

Only way to tell is to bump start it. On the project car the starter had failed and I needed to hear the engine run so into first and dropped the clutch once rolling (towed!) and it jumped into life.

If your car is an auto forget it.

 

[Boomerang_GT]

You could try and have a look with a torch beyond the intake manifold. If there are leaking pipes you should be able to see it.

 

[Contigo]

It's usually heat which kills them not water ingress.

 

[Boomerang_GT]

Starter engines are usually built to resist heat. Just start an engine that won't start for some minutes and the starter will have more degrees than the 70-80 degrees of the engine. But however, starter needs to be changed/repaired.
Killed by cooling liquid seems a common known problem on the 3200 GT:
http://www.maserati-alfieri.co.uk/alfieri06llllll.htm
http://www.mustangshire.com/mustangshire.com/Gallery/Entries/2010/1/25_Maserati_3200_GT.html
http://www.mustangshire.com/mustangshire.com/Gallery/Entries/2010/1/25_Maserati_3200_GT.html

 

[Contigo]

Starter engines are usually built to resist heat. Just start an engine that won't start for some minutes and the starter will have more degrees than the 70-80 degrees of the engine. But however, starter needs to be changed/repaired.
Killed by cooling liquid seems a common known problem on the 3200 GT:
http://www.maserati-alfieri.co.uk/alfieri06llllll.htm
http://www.mustangshire.com/mustangshire.com/Gallery/Entries/2010/1/25_Maserati_3200_GT.html
http://www.mustangshire.com/mustangshire.com/Gallery/Entries/2010/1/25_Maserati_3200_GT.html

Starter motors are not usually mounted right in the Vee of the engine. Water may be a factor but the units are very well sealed. The one I just put into the project car was a sealed unit.

 

[davy83]

i used a Bosch starter in my car, fitted with some small mods, but its been perfect since.

 

[conaero]

Nick, have you checked the piggyback cables on the battery positive terminal. My GS had intermittent starting issues and it turned out to be loose.

 

[NickP]

Funny you should say that Matt, the battery terminals are loose, was looking to replace as the positive connector looks mashed and even when fully tightened its loose on the battery. I've ordered all the parts I could possibly need, will start with the battery and work my way forwards.

 

[NickP]

So took it all apart and the starter motor literally fell in half when I removed the mounting bit to fit onto the new one, looked like the rotating parts had smashed into the magnets...

So fitted new knock sensors, new starter and put it all back together yesterday, it started after an awful lot of turning over and when it did it sounded a little different to before but after a while it settled down so I took it for a spin. I noticed a really low drone when flooring it and the turbos sounded very woooshy... but it seems to drive ok, maybe its because i have not driven it for ages....

Anyway when I got home it wouldnt start again and now the battery is down,
So I will charge the battery fully and give it another go, it used to start first go every time. Very depressing.

On inspection I noticed that the top rear plenum hose on right hand side is missing (standing at front of car) there are 4 in total but i seem to now only have 3, anyone able to tell me where this one might come from so i can trace it back? I guess this wouldnt help with starting if its off or is this just a hose that doesnt go anywhere?

Also, the jubilee on the throttle body is not tightening up fully so have ordered a replacement. I wouldnt think this would make it hard to start but could do?

Fuel is getting through (I primed it using the valves on the rails) and I think the ignition should be fine.

I guess the only other thing to do is take the plenum off again and make sure there are no problems with the rubber gaskets.

Any other suggestions (other than its a crappy 3200 what did you expect)