Odd Starter Problem With C5 2.2dti

[BarryK]

Hi all

 

Lately my C5 has become very difficult to start - on turning the key to the start position, the starter motor makes a couple of turns and then kicks out.

 

If I continue to try to start it, eventually it manages to stagger into life.

 

Any suggestiona gratefully received.

 

Thanks

Barry

[BarryK]

Just an update to this problem - I fully charged the battery overnight and the car started on the second try.

 

This suggests to me that either the battery is faulty, OR the alternator is not charging properly..........

 

Gonna do some tests with a multimeter later.

[coastline taxis]

is thje starter engaging 1st time everytime

[BarryK]

is thje starter engaging 1st time everytime

 

 

Yepp - engaging every time, but only for a couple of revolutions - if the battery is fully charged it turns enough to fire the engine..........

[BarryK]

Finally I got around to taking some meter readings.

 

Battery Voltage with ignition off - 12.4 volts

 

-------"---------------"------ on - 12.4 volts

 

-------"------- with engine idling - 14.4 volts

 

-------"------- engine revving about 3000rpm - 14.7 volts

 

So, I'd say that Battery is a bit low but not a problem - and the Alternator seems to be working OK.

 

That leaves just the starter motor - when I started the car today, the engine kicked into life straight away - on trying to restart (after the meter checks) the original fault returned i.e. approximately 2 revs and the starter kicked out.

 

I noticed that sometimes, after the starter dog kicks out, and before you release the key, you can hear what seems to be the starter motor turning quite quickly.

 

Think I need to pull the starter motor out and check the engagement mechanism, don't really want to spend a hundred quid or so on a new starter motor that may or may not be the problem...............

 

When I get the starting sorted out I'll need to take a look at some of the other problems - odd EM alarms, the usual crop of carp that you seem to get with elderly C5's.

 

If I can get the starting sorted I may invest in a lexia to sort the other faults.

[Guest mechcanico lee]

Sounds like a duff starter motor Barry, change it but use a decent quality one , theres after market parts and after market parts if you see what i mean

 

Lee

[BarryK]

Sounds like a duff starter motor Barry, change it but use a decent quality one , theres after market parts and after market parts if you see what i mean

 

Lee

 

Thanks Lee, I'll pull the old one apart first tho' - I'd rather spend some time on it it rather than spending some money.......

 

If I can't get to the botton of it I'll be looking at Ebay - loads on there around 50 to 60 quid, need to identify the exact model though.

[Randombloke]

I have a suggestion for you. I had a similar problem with an old Corsa.

 

Take a piece of very thick electrical cable from the battery direct to the +ve side of the starter motor solenoid.

 

See if the cranking speed of your starter improves. I found I had a high resistance joint in the thick cable from the battery via alternator to starter motor, and on replacing it with a new cable in parallel my problems ended.

[BarryK]

I have a suggestion for you. I had a similar problem with an old Corsa.

 

Take a piece of very thick electrical cable from the battery direct to the +ve side of the starter motor solenoid.

 

See if the cranking speed of your starter improves. I found I had a high resistance joint in the thick cable from the battery via alternator to starter motor, and on replacing it with a new cable in parallel my problems ended.

 

Thanks Random - The problem is not with s/motor speed, but with the solenoid appearing to disengage sfter a couple of revs of the engine.

 

What I don't get is that when the engine is cold it will start 1st time, try it again in an hour and it will only start after many tries (sometimes not at all)

 

There are also many other problems with this vehicle, as I said earlier, I think I'm gonna need a lexia......

 

Thanks for the interest - much appreciated.