Thread: L322 won't start

Originally Posted by fraser130

Pat, did you ever find out the problem with this? Mine is stuck at work because it's doing the same thing.....
Cheers,
Fraser

Changed the key fob battery and it's never happened again. Pat

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.