Sticking starter motor...

The starter motor solenoid I think, is sticking on my 200tdi, ever since it's been cold its been sticking and I have to hold the leave the starter running for about 10 seconds or more till the solenoid frees and engages the flywheel. I assumed it was sticking due to the cold, but it was about 6 degrees C here in Sheffield today so nowhere near freezing. Any ideas at what it could be chaps?

Cheers!!

can your hear the motor spinning free before the gear finaly reaches the flywheel gear if so the motor needs to come off and clean and oil the corkscrew slide action if theres no sound of the motor spinning it ssound like power to or the solenoid which if so try putting a direct battery live onto the motor bolt bypassing the solenoid carfull not to earth the live on the motor housing see if the motor runs if it does its the solinoid or live to it hope this helps

I can here the motor spinning freely, it takes about 10 seconds of it spinning before it goes crunch and engages the flywheel. Motor off it is then!

Well would you Adam and Eve it!! It's working every time now!! Must have been the cold. Oh well!!!

Ive fitted a second hand starter motor to my disco on saturday and had similar... turn the key and nothing at all...

after a wack with a hammer as I turned the key it started fine.
turn it off and tried again...no problems.

now i've just tried to start it....nothing again!
fkin thing!

[JP];969835 said:

Ive fitted a second hand starter motor to my disco on saturday and had similar... turn the key and nothing at all...

after a wack with a hammer as I turned the key it started fine.
turn it off and tried again...no problems.

now i've just tried to start it....nothing again!
fkin thing!

Click to expand...

is the battery fully charged?
have you checked the connection to it?
do you want a box of matches and a gallon of petrol ?

battery.....fok knows, havent driven it for ages..
but on saturday it started when I wacked it..and then started first time after turning the engine off...
so assume the battery is ok? last time I checked with a multimeter was showing normal volts...
all earth connections have been completely cleaned as well...

petrol and matches sound like a good option though!

or.... I could install a big hammer in the engine bay that would drop on the starter motor at the same time i turn the ignition??? lol

jmattley said:

The starter motor solenoid I think, is sticking on my 200tdi, ever since it's been cold its been sticking and I have to hold the leave the starter running for about 10 seconds or more till the solenoid frees and engages the flywheel. I assumed it was sticking due to the cold, but it was about 6 degrees C here in Sheffield today so nowhere near freezing. Any ideas at what it could be chaps?

Cheers!!

Click to expand...

Ice on the corkscew shaft if it happens again take the motor off and ply some grease round the shaft