Thread: L322 Solution to your starting problem

Bottom Line Up Front: If you tighten the bolts on the face of the starter motor, it will drastically improve your ability to start [a previously laboring] car! Background: After several days of fault finding (battery testing, replacement battery, new fuel filter, concerns about fuel pump, starter motor, earth etc etc) - it now appears that the cause of the laboured start (often 4-6 seconds of turning, if it started at all) was simply two screws / bolts on the starter motor that were loose (~five threads). I determined this whilst at the mechanics (he asked me to start the car whilst he inspected the engine bay) - he noticed sparks coming from the starter, and after inspection of the face of the starter, he noted the loose screws - he grabbed his spanner, tightened them up and away I went - I was elated! By simply tightening these screws (one is easy to get to, the other not so much); the car went from a labouring beast, to a prompt starter. I can try and take photos if anyone needs them, but I really hope this info helps someone out.

Originally Posted by hammers1977

Bottom Line Up Front: If you tighten the bolts on the face of the starter motor, it will drastically improve your ability to start [a previously laboring] car! Background: After several days of fault finding (battery testing, replacement battery, new fuel filter, concerns about fuel pump, starter motor, earth etc etc) - it now appears that the cause of the laboured start (often 4-6 seconds of turning, if it started at all) was simply two screws / bolts on the starter motor that were loose (~five threads). I determined this whilst at the mechanics (he asked me to start the car whilst he inspected the engine bay) - he noticed sparks coming from the starter, and after inspection of the face of the starter, he noted the loose screws - he grabbed his spanner, tightened them up and away I went - I was elated! By simply tightening these screws (one is easy to get to, the other not so much); the car went from a labouring beast, to a prompt starter. I can try and take photos if anyone needs them, but I really hope this info helps someone out.

Loose bolts might have been an earthing issue in your case. n