Do you think it's the starter motor????

[jt_armstrong]

Wife jumped into her '99 4.6l this morning but all she got was a click. I swung my jeep round and managed to start it of the leads. Got a call from her later that she was stuck in the car park with just the same click. I wipped the battery (3 months old and full charged) from my '97 Rangie and fitted it in the car park but all I got was the same click.

In the process of towing her home at the moment. Is this likely to be the starter motor that has failed? She has never given any indication of failure previously and always started the car within a couple of seconds. The fact that I managed to start her on jump leads this morning has confused me.

 

[Fur Trapper]

Wife jumped into her '99 4.6l this morning but all she got was a click. I swung my jeep round and managed to start it of the leads. Got a call from her later that she was stuck in the car park with just the same click. I wipped the battery (3 months old and full charged) from my '97 Rangie and fitted it in the car park but all I got was the same click.

In the process of towing her home at the moment. Is this likely to be the starter motor that has failed? She has never given any indication of failure previously and always started the car within a couple of seconds. The fact that I managed to start her on jump leads this morning has confused me.

what you coud have are dirty battery post and connector's, wen you jumped it with your cables what you did was bypassed the battery in the RR so clean your battery first. If it th starter starte it then the starter works. When you disconnect the battery to clan the post, clean the power cables on the starter also and coat with grease and reassemble. sounds like all its going to do is cost you time at this point. Good luck and lets us know how you made out.

 

[wammers]

If you got a click and the dash lights dimmed or went out bad connection. If you got a click no lamp fade and no starter, solenoid contact failing most likely. New solenoid only cure the contacts burn out over time. They can fail altogether or intermittently.

 

[Irishrover]

I had the same problem with my 4.6 a few years ago, left it 5 minutes and it started fine and then started without problems, okay for about a month. It then started doing it more often and I decided to just replace the motor complete with a new one from Island 4 X 4. It was a Britpart and I have had no trouble since.
If you are going to remove the Starter, get yourself a 6mm a/f socket type allen key. The top bolt is a pain to get at, but do-able with a couple of extensions and a ratchet.
Slacken the bottom bolt off by about 2turns first and leave it in place, then undo and remove the top bolt, finally remove the bottom bolt.
To refit, put he bottom bolt in first and lightly nip it up finger tight then fit and tighten the top bolt.

 

[jt_armstrong]

Thanks guys. Not long got her home (towed by my old trusty Jeep). The dash lights do dim a bit but not much so the jury is still out as to whether it is a bad connection or failed solenoid. Starter motor has a good covering of oil which looks like it is coming from a split sump gasket. Will disconnect all the leads and clean every thing up first and see if that makes a difference.
Removing the starter looks like a real pain. I can't even see the top bolt. Is it reachable from below or do I need to take the manifold heat shields off and tackle it from the top?

 

[Datatek]

Get the missus to turn the key while you tap the starter motor solenoid with a hammer, if it springs to life it is definately the solenoid.

 

[dogsbody]

Before you spend any money try using one of your jump leads as an earth lead from the engine and try turning it over. A bad earth return can give your symptoms.

 

[jt_armstrong]

Before you spend any money try using one of your jump leads as an earth lead from the engine and try turning it over. A bad earth return can give your symptoms.

Thanks Dogsbody. I tried the used the alternator fixings for an earth but it made no difference. Only option is to get down and get dirty....but that will have to wait until tomorrow.

 

[wammers]

Thanks Dogsbody. I tried the used the alternator fixings for an earth but it made no difference. Only option is to get down and get dirty....but that will have to wait until tomorrow.

Put a screwdriver across the two large terminals on the solenoid if the engine turns the solenoid is knackered.

 

[dogsbody]

Put a screwdriver across the two large terminals on the solenoid if the engine turns the solenoid is knackered.

Careful Wammers, you're showing your age with old tricks like that.

 

[Fur Trapper]

Careful Wammers, you're showing your age with old tricks like that.

Hell he invented the starter, He was Thomas Edison's assistance

 

[tomcat59alan]

cheeky bastard,wammers not that old,eddison didnt invent the pre-engaged starter

 

[wammers]

cheeky bastard,wammers not that old,eddison didnt invent the pre-engaged starter

If he had reached the patents office twenty minutes later he would not have been credited with the light bulb either. Clever bloke though.

 

[Fur Trapper]

If he had reached the patents office twenty minutes later he would not have been credited with the light bulb either. Clever bloke though.

whatsssssssssss up Wammers? 31 hours and my feet will be on British soilyeeeeeeee haaaaaaaaaaaa

 

[Sirus]

Last one out turn the lights off quick

 

[storm99]

I have organised a welcome party with some contacts in customs.

 

[ratty]

whatsssssssssss up Wammers? 31 hours and my feet will be on British soilyeeeeeeee haaaaaaaaaaaa

Now I know how the Germans felt on Normandy.

 

[wammers]

whatsssssssssss up Wammers? 31 hours and my feet will be on British soilyeeeeeeee haaaaaaaaaaaa

Hands up time, that was not the light bulb, think he was beaten by Bell by twenty mins for patent on telephone. Light bulb invented and patented twelve months before Eddisons US patent by an Englishman Joseph Swan. Hope you have a great stay John.

 

[jt_armstrong]

Just to close out this thread with an update. I tried shorting out the terminals trick but it failed to turn the starter at all so I set about replacing the starter. New Britpart one now fitted and car back to it's normal best. I never would have thought the old starter was about to fail but when you hear the new one the difference is night and day. Thanks again for all your help.

 

[ratty]

Just to close out this thread with an update. I tried shorting out the terminals trick but it failed to turn the starter at all so I set about replacing the starter. New Britpart one now fitted and car back to it's normal best. I never would have thought the old starter was about to fail but when you hear the new one the difference is night and day. Thanks again for all your help.

Britpart???