Lardy Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 Starter motor is only 4 months old. Drove to the shop turned off went in came back out starter wouldn't turn. Checked, and there is lots of power from battery ie lights bright, heater runs well. Solved it by putting in gear and moving car back and forth and tried again, it was fine. Is there an issue? will it let me down? any ideas? Its not wrapped nor are the headers. Should I look at doing this? Thanks GK02 *** Blue SV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manxseven Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 Ring gear knackered on starter or flywheel. I think the engine always stops in 1 of 2 places, so the flywheel takes a hammering in these two areas, you moved the car in gear, which moved the flywheel to a nice non-worn bit, hence it started ok. Caterham Fireblade here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAUL MARRIOTT Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 Do the easy bit first, check all elec connections for tight clean fit I had the same problem, remade all the connections, and did the relay mod, and I've not had a problem since. I'm not convinced the relay mod was required though. Paul M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fevans Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 Lardy, did you hear a 'click' on pressing your ignition button? If so, is is the usual K series problem. Best Regards, Felix Felix Yealmpton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lardy Posted March 30, 2006 Author Share Posted March 30, 2006 Manx, starter motor didn't turn at all. Paul will do. Felix what is the cure for this common problem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slipper man Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 If it works when cold but not when hot, then it is a bad starter. This can happen on new starters. Only real solution is the high spec starter - Bosch I think plus adapter plate. I assume it is a K series? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shn7 Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 Lardy, There are many possible reasons if there was a click. All come down to not enough ummppphh getting to the starter/solenoid. Check all connections very thoroughly. In my case it was a worn FIA cut out switch. It could be a dodgy solenoid to. A number of people have cured the click problem by dismantling the solenoid and cleaning it. I did this initially when I had the problem and it worked as a temporary solution. Finally when the problem returned I traced it to the FIA switch. Check all earths and the condition of the heavy duty cables to the starter/battery. Now if the starter spins but the engine doesn't turn over then the starter or ring gear is most likely worn and rocking the car in gear helps by moving the ring gear. However rocking the car may also be enough IMHO to affect a bad connection. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prs Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 Had a similar problem last year. So took the SM off dismantled and completely cleaned everything especially the solenoid, did the relay modification and finally totally insulated the SM with reflective heat wrap. Have since done about 4k with no probs much of which has been in high temps in France. Oh standard starter BTW Phil S7SVN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTD Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 Check all connections very thoroughly. In my case it was a worn FIA cut out switch Could you confirm if there is a possibility that a worn FIA cut out switch might be a cause of the dreaded clicking starter motor? Did I understand that right? Because we've got that with my car right now, and I have recently found the need to wiggle the red key in the cut out switch? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manxseven Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 *arrowup*GTD, Yes it can (had it on my Mini). Caterham Fireblade here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 I had a lot of problems with the click of death in my K. Only when hot. Very annoying. Solved with a new starter (£100) + heat shield. My ... Preciousss! Member #109** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastlady Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 Has anyone tracked a 'K Click' to anything wrong with the immobiliser? I've had this problem intermittently recently but it seems to be related very strongly to the immobiliser. If I do a full 'immobilise-wait for the red light to stop flashing-disarm' sequence (hearing the expected number of 'immobiliser clicks' each time, and no matter what the state of the immobiliser was before I started the sequence) it always seems to start. However if I miss one of these steps or try to start the car when the immobiliser appears to be disarmed but I haven't done the full sequence, I quite often get 'the click'. Rocking in gear also works to get it started and all the connections to the starter motor look OK (i.e. not obviously heat damaged), but the immobiliser sequence seems to be the biggest factor. Anyone else seen this too? If so is there anything I can do or should check? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTD Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 Just thinking, when we push start the car, it runs fine - does that suggest that it is nothing to do with the FIA cut off switch? Or could it be that problem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shn7 Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 GTD, That's exactly what I had. Hold the key in the on position and it started. Without holding it you would get the click of death. And it's the switch that needs replacing not just the red key ☹️ Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTD Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 Steve - thanks for that info! We'll check it out. Cheaper than a new starter motor, I guess! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobW Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 If its a crossflow the Starters are ony £25. and 15 mins to swap !! Even I managed it !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTD Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 K series ☹️ Closer to £150, apparently! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shn7 Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 GTD, Certainly is cheaper. Did JH help your enough to get the car running for Goodwood yesterday? Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTD Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 Steve John gave me an enormous help - we were so close at the end, engine out, replaced the bottom end with the DVA unit, put it all back in and started it with the JH tractor. I had a fabulous Easter learning about the car from John, and eating Sue's food. Sometimes this club is amazing. Unfortunately with the starter issue and the car not seeming to be quite on cam, I left the car in the paddock at Goodwood and decided not to risk it until we'd checked it over again. Nearly there - getting the starter issue fixed tomorrow I hope - there's a garage down the road with a Classic Sportscar Club mechanic on the team - I'll pass on the possibility of the FIA switch to him (actually I'll try wiggling it some more tonight myself !) and then I'll be able to drive it around more easily - at the moment it needs Mrs GTD and a tow car to get it going. Geoff Edited by - GTD on 18 Apr 2006 15:07:52 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shn7 Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 Geoff, Well at least you & JH tried your best. Thinking about the engine having been out you did tighten up the earth strap(s) I hope? A bad earth could cause the starting problem too. Maybe one of the heavy duty cables it suspect and having been distubed taking the engine out has now gone too far to provide enough ummppphhh to start the car. Do let us know the outcome. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTD Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 Good thought! I'll keep you posted! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sootysevener Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 Could be something really simple like a loose connection of the wire from the ingintion switch to the starter either being loose or even coming off the spade but still resting against it. How tight are your cable runs to the starter? I had this problem when i spiral wrapped my wiring - letting the cable out of the spiral wrap one wrap earlier took the pressure off the wire at the starter end and fixed the problem David 1989 1700XF SS clams with carbon webshots here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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