odd starter issue

[davy83]

Any one had this problem. after 1-2 hours of mixed spirited driving and finally a motorway stretch at 75 not pushing it all on the motorway, stop the car and now on two occasions once after 5 minutes and onces after about 20 minutes turn the key and click, stater does not engage. not the noise you get with a flat battery where the starter shuttle engages and there is a dull light dimming sort of thing, this is a distinct click, not heavy enough for the starter solenoid to have actualyl made contact. On both occasions I got a socket set on one of the drive pulleys (AC compressor i think) and just turned the engine a little and then it starts no problem. I am not sure whats going on here. Battery not old still under gaurantee, and its a Bosch Starter, not sure how old cant remember when I changed that, need to look up the service history possibly 8-10 years old maybe. Any one had this sort of behaviour?

 

[safrane]

How is your air conditioning pump? I had a similar issue back in 2015 when the pump had seized and the starter motor could not overcome the extra drag of the aux belt.

 

[davy83]

Interesting comment, the AC is working quite well just now so I assumed the pump was ok. However the first time this happened I felt the belt was a bit on the stiff side to get it to move, really hard to tell though. I guess at the moment the AC is working all the time, so perhaps causing issues with the AC compressor?

The thing that makes me think its the starter is that if i move the aux belt just a little it goes ok no problem.

How is your air conditioning pump? I had a similar issue back in 2015 when the pump had seized and the starter motor could not overcome the extra drag of the aux belt.

 

[conaero]

Check the earth battery strap for cracking and where the main starter cable meets the bulkhead, below the ABS unit is clean and tight. We had the same issue recently and baffled us for a couple of days.

 

[davy83]

Check the earth battery strap for cracking and where the main starter cable meets the bulkhead, below the ABS unit is clean and tight. We had the same issue recently and baffled us for a couple of days.

WEll yesa I remember that hefty strap running down onto the body, i can have a look at that, does nto explain why it's only happening when its hot.

 

[allandwf]

It sounds very similar to the F car hot start issue, that I need to fit a relay to cure,. In my case it is a volts drop across the ignition switch, seemingly an age thing and quite common to a lot of cars.

 

[Swedish Paul]

It sounds very similar to the F car hot start issue, that I need to fit a relay to cure,. In my case it is a volts drop across the ignition switch, seemingly an age thing and quite common to a lot of cars.

Which relay?

 

[allandwf]

Which relay?

It is an additional relay, which switches battery directly to the starter solenoid.
Google hot start relay, it is common on a lot of cars as they age.

 

[TimR]

When my alternator seized...the car wouldnt turn over atall !

 

[davy83]

How did you establish it was the air conditioning compressor? Just pull it all apart and see if some thing is hard to turn?

How is your air conditioning pump? I had a similar issue back in 2015 when the pump had seized and the starter motor could not overcome the extra drag of the aux belt.

 

[tan55555]

I have a 4200 manual, not sure if this helps, but I had exactly the same thing for the first time this weekend. Drove to the supermarket, then when I came back 20 mins later the car was just clicking on turning the key. I fitted a new Bosch battery only 2 months ago so know the battery is fine. Happened 3-4 times on turning the key. Got out, swore a bit, then tried again and started fine.
Went to the petrol station from the supermarket, filled up, then turned the key with trepidation, it started straight away, but took the revs up to 6,000 for a second, before going back to idle (made me look like a di** on the crowded forecourt). Has been perfect since, starts normally every time.
May not add anything, but this rev rise on the next start might be useful info to diagnose the problem?

 

[safrane]

How did you establish it was the air conditioning compressor? Just pull it all apart and see if some thing is hard to turn?

When the engine turned you could see the belt slipping on the AC pully... when qe cut the belt you could not turn the AC pump. On inspection the clutch had failed amd the motor was shot.

 

[davy83]

Not hard to work it out then!!! i suspect i am at an earlier stage of something seizing up, since it is only a problem when the engine is hot and even then with the engine running everything is turning ok. I will just have to pull it all apart i think.

When the engine turned you could see the belt slipping on the AC pully... when qe cut the belt you could not turn the AC pump. On inspection the clutch had failed amd the motor was shot.