Dodgy starter motor?

Howdy all,

Was late for work this morning and in a rush. Obviously, this is the time the defender wants to play 'time to get your hands dirty'. Turn the key, nothing. Tried a couple more times... same. Popped the bonnet, gave the starter a whack with the big metal pole I keep in the back for this exact situation. Started first time. It has happened maybe 2 other random times like this in the last 4 months.

However, I am also having general starting issues that can be read about here https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/sometimes-starts-sometimes-doesnt-glow-plug-light.285614 which is sometimes the glow plug light doesn't come on.

Could it be one and the same problem? Will one of these starter motor repair kits sort the starter (and maybe the other starting issue)? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LANDROVER...319?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item43d2998d17

What with winter coming...I want to get this starting issue resolved as i'm sure the cold weather will only make it worse!
Cheers in advance

Mine has done this occasionally and it is an easy fix. There's a low-current wire that arrives at the starter motor and connects with a spade connector. This is the one that activates the solenoid. If I wobble the spade connector it makes contact and starts working again. I have cleaned up the connection and squeezed the female part of the spade connector with pliers and it seems to have cured it completely. Try the simple things before dismembering the starter itself!

Thanks Brown, I'll get under her at lunch and have a look.

Ta muchly

Brown said:

Mine has done this occasionally and it is an easy fix. There's a low-current wire that arrives at the starter motor and connects with a spade connector. This is the one that activates the solenoid. If I wobble the spade connector it makes contact and starts working again. I have cleaned up the connection and squeezed the female part of the spade connector with pliers and it seems to have cured it completely. Try the simple things before dismembering the starter itself!

Click to expand...

+1 Had the very same issues some time back a clean and make good the connection did the trick for me.

Right, it was very gunky indeed. I've cleaned it up, plenty of contact cleaner and good helping of copper grease after squeezing the crimp tighter. But, I tried it just after and... although the starter seemed to kick into life, the car just turned over and the glow-plug light didn't come on so back my old problem. A couple more turns and the glow light came back on and eventually fired. Hmmm

On a side-note, what is missing on my starter motor - see the hole at the bottom, looks like something might have been bolted on there at some time?

See pic

Oh I see, so i'm missing a breather pipe, presumably there to drain any water that might get in? Should I replace that or do you think it will be ok as it is?

huffhuff said:

Oh I see, so i'm missing a breather pipe, presumably there to drain any water that might get in? Should I replace that or do you think it will be ok as it is?

Click to expand...

I would replace breather as they are that long to stop road grit and the like entering.

My rubber tubes have dropped off too. Maybe I should find some more.

Tried a search but can't see where to buy just those pipes?!?

Any pointers?!?

Ta

huffhuff said:

Tried a search but can't see where to buy just those pipes?!?

Any pointers?!?

Ta

Click to expand...

Could try a local Denso supplier/repair centre.

Tim4x4 said:

Could try a local Denso supplier/repair centre.

Click to expand...

Will give it a Google, cheers

If you find them for sale separately, let us know, because I could do with a couple.

sticky starter solenoid.

mines was like this - then it died completely.....

Brown said:

If you find them for sale separately, let us know, because I could do with a couple.

Click to expand...

I've found a guy but he only sells the standard 25mm pipes, he thinks the originals would have been 50-60mm in length. I'll get under and measure the one I have there and see.

£1 each

Yes, they were quite long as I remember. The tubing itself isn't so much the issue, it's the little lip that fits the body of the starter motor that's hard to replicate.

I'm going to order some of these, I'll get 5. Brown, i'll let you know when they arrive and post you 2 out if you like

Ah fantastic! You're very kind. PM me when they come and I'll send you an address.

I ordered a repair kit for my starter motor yesterday and it arrived today - magic.

However, I have just had a look at what tools i'll need and have seen a 'hella' sticker on the starter motor. Does that mean it's not the standard starter or is the hella a rebranded denso??

I don't want to arse about taking it off to find I have the wrong kit...

Cheers

I replaced the plunger and contacts in the starter last week. Car started ok for a few days, then it's slowly been getting worse again. Turning over but not starting.

But now, I have a nanocom...

Idle battery voltage fluctuates all over the place;

10.39
12.29
12.48
11.88
10.04
11.25
11.44
11.79
11.02
9.6
11.94
10.55
11.5
10.58
12.8
9.53
12.83
12.89
10.23
13.15
13.08
9.72
12.42
10.9

So, i've had a look and the cable going off to the alternator feels a bit loose where cable should be crimped to ring terminal to starter post. It's covered in a rubber boot so hard to tell 100%. If this cable was not fully crimped or broken, would it cause the symptoms I'm having?

I guess basically what i'm asking is, if the cable going from starter to alternator is faulty, will it give me starting issues??!

Ta