Thread: Starter Motor questions - 300 tdi

Firstly, check the earth strap attached to the starter, second check the ACTUAL voltage at the solenoid hot wire when key is turned. It may well be the problem ESPECIALLY if you still have an alarm spider in the system.

Try running a 12V wire from battery directly to solenoid next time, to prove this theory.

JC

Not directly related to the battery, but take a look at the earth connection between the starter motor and chassis.

Mine was not starting too well at one point, I traced it down to this earth lead being half rubbed through on the chassis rail and poorly connected at the chassis end.

You need to be under the car behind the passengers front wheel looking at the starter motor area to see it.

Originally Posted by justinc

Firstly, check the earth strap attached to the starter, second check the ACTUAL voltage at the solenoid hot wire when key is turned. It may well be the problem ESPECIALLY if you still have an alarm spider in the system.

Try running a 12V wire from battery directly to solenoid next time, to prove this theory.

JC

thanks for your reply JC,

by "hot wire" do you mean the battery connection on the solenoid?

and do you mean the key just "on" or "on with the starter turning" ?

and yes I haven't disconnected the alarm system (because I don't know how
)

- I probably won't get to have another look at it until tomorrow to check what you advised.

mine did the same thing, it turned out an additional earth strap from the negative terminal to the block was needed, the starter motor kept trying to find an earth and melted the hand brake cable to the nylon sheath. Fitted a new earth band and all was good.