Thread: Starter motor issue

Originally Posted by mcrover

Has anyone had this before,

Engine hot, just been in traffic for 1 1/2hrs and let it run for 5 mins before shutting down then about 15mins later it wouldnt start.

Starter clicking like a flat battery, connected the second battery over and clicking just changed to a loud clunking sound.

Tried turning it over with the belt and wouldnt move so got the breaker bar on it and it was siezed solid.

I was thinking timing belt but after trying to get a tow from a few mates tow companies and a couple I didnt know without luck my son decided to give it 1 more go and away it went, no click and no clunk just started like normal.

I had to go over to Jamies anyway so we had a look around and have come to the conclusion that the starter jammed for some reason probably being nice and hot and more than likely full of mud and when it cooled a bit came free.

Im pulling it out next week to have a look but it has started 6 times since no probs.

I have had starters fail and starters Jam before but not in that way where they have freed them selves but I recon its one of those anything can happen things.

Im unsure if disco,s run a relay for the starter or not .

But years ago xf falcons would do the same when hot , The trick was to fit a relay to the starter wire near the starter motor , I fixed many a xf/xe/xd ford this way

as Rangieman says,also get new brushes for the starter.
Andrew

Yeah, I had the exact same symptoms 3 weeks ago. After checking everything from battery terminal connections, to relay operation, it turned out to be a loose positive terminal on the starter motor.

Cheers

Bojan

Actually guys, I had one fitted but it got disconnected when the dual bat set up caught fire so I must fix it as well.

Im going to do a bit of wiring repairs this weekend, time it got some TLC

Andy, do you mean the Brushes or are they bushed on the drive shaft which can cause problems.

I havent ever had one out so I dont know what they are like but Ive done plenty up for tractors and stuff so they cant be that different (famous last words)

I might just pull Chris's out of his fender and rip that apart first so I know what im doing lol


Edit, Sorry Andy, just reread your post, Im a dumb **** lol

Originally Posted by rangieman

Im unsure if disco,s run a relay for the starter or not .

But years ago xf falcons would do the same when hot , The trick was to fit a relay to the starter wire near the starter motor , I fixed many a xf/xe/xd ford this way

or throw a bucket of water over the starter,
i used to empty the servo's windscreen cleaning bucket over my fairlane's starter to get it going when i was doing highway trips.
my disco has done the starter in twice and is now occaisonally [spell check ron?] sticking now, was on my jobs list , i keep forgetting to pull it and fix it.
the major problem with disco starters is water crossings, and people sealing them up to stop water going in.
sealing the starter from water going in only stops water going out.
if i sealed it how does the water got in? i hear you say.
well in travelling through water the water gets into the bell housing and is pumped into the starter by the ring gear, and if you have sealed the starter then the water has no where to get out of the starter, so it sits in there and corrodes the brush springs, which eventually fail to push the brushes and the starter fails.
oh the water doesn't just attack the springs.
new starter coming up.

I dont suppose it's a grinding A'la worn starter motor teeth?

Rather than the flat battery click click?

I just remembered I got this years ago on a ford transit and it was the starter firing out but then jamming, try leaving it in 1st or 2nd and rocking it back and forth this will un-jam the teeth if it is that.

Gday Mcrovr
Ther could be another reason for this to happen. Most engines will stop in 3 different positions depending on the amount of cylinders. Thus the starter motor throws out on those same positions on the fly wheel each time. A 95 shouldnt have worn that much, but it is a possiblity that the ring gear or the starter throw out cog could be worn and jamming tooth on tooth rather than meshing. just a thought.

Thanks
Bazz

Just rechecked my thread and to answer the questions....

It hasnt ever been grinding or not meshing with the ring gear and greatfully hasnt happened again.

I've come to the conclusion that it is more along the lines of what Harry said and is most likely due to corrotion from either mud build up or condensation or water from deep crossings as I have done heaps of both playing in mud holes and river crossings of late so I will put it off as long as I can and revisit it when I do the trans as it will be out anyway.

And I may as well chuck on a relay while Im at it as they cost bugger all and they do save drawing too much current through the ignition switch.

Thanks for the replies folks I appreciate it.