sticky starter

[Mickey taker]

car wwouldent start this morning so charged the battery but still nothing.
Decide to go old school and hit the starter motor .

Guess what , it started.

So, is there anything I can do to the old starter to stop this happenning again (clean the pinion thingy?) or do I need a new starter

[saintjamesy89]

My astra's starter motor has similar issues, sometimes when you turn the key it just crunches and grinds, but try again and all is fine. It also always groans after or when it disengages (after engine starts), well sounds a bit more like a fart than a groan actually... But the important thing? It always farts! I mean starts!

[Willy]

If you get that sound when it ultimately started (big VAG problem, Valeo I think - my old car had it) then it's just gunk in the gearing and can be cleaned out if it's not too late.



http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.p ... eplacement

[Mickey taker]

no sound, just dosent start

[Dollywobbler]

no sound, just dosent start

Mine does this occasionally. Had to borrow a hammer from a garage a while back as I had no tools on me! It tried doing it yesterday. I swore at it and it started fine...

[saintjamesy89]

If you get that sound when it ultimately started (big VAG problem, Valeo I think - my old car had it) then it's just gunk in the gearing and can be cleaned out if it's not too late.



http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.p ... eplacement

Mine makes the noise from the link on the forum there, but not quite as loud. Always has done, oh well another job for the list!

I guess you could try some lubrication, usually it's just the pinion thingy ratchet mechanism getting stuck when they don't start isn't it? My boss used to have to keep a hammer in his old polo for just such occasions, poor bloke got laughed at fairly frequently. Not by me of course, no.

[Willy]

Haha, lubrication.

[saintjamesy89]

Little things, eh Willy?

Indeed! Everything is better with a little lubrication, well most things - not food though, unless things like gravy etc count as lube...?

Sorry Mick, major thread hi-jackness going on. I'll shut up now and get on with my revision like a good little student...

[bx petrol auto saloon]

Dear Mick.
If you have a sticking starter, sometimes it can be due to the solenoid not making a clean contact, with the electrical terminals inside
of the solenoid housing Mick. the electrical terminals could just need
cleaning with a bit of emery paper
If you have a sticking starter bendix, the worm like shaft that the
cog that meshes with the starter ring gear on the flywheel, this can be
cleaned with carb cleaner first, but not too much, and the only lubricant
that you are allowed to use, is pencil lead, an HB would be fine. it does
work.
I hope this helps Mick
Vince.

[Mickey taker]

since my vasectomy I dont seem to have any lead in my pencil Vince

But seriously , at the weekend I will pull the starter out, check the connections and clean it up.

[citronut]

the usual fault if bashing it gets it working is sticking/worn down carbon brush's,

over time the carbon dust from the brush's gets in between the brush and carrier which stops the brush/s sliding freely, so a tap/bash to the starter body causes the brush's to move back onto the commutator,

if you keep doing this and the brush's are worn down to much you will burn out the commutator,

regards malcolm

[Vanny]

the usual fault if bashing it gets it working is sticking/worn down carbon brush's

Dependant on how far its gone, and what type you have, you can normally rebuild them with new brushes. Either than or get a tiny weeny compact one from a newer car, fit, and forget!!

[pmh]

the usual fault if bashing it gets it working is sticking/worn down carbon brush's,

over time the carbon dust from the brush's gets in between the brush and carrier which stops the brush/s sliding freely, so a tap/bash to the starter body causes the brush's to move back onto the commutator,

regards malcolm

Carbon Brushes on a starter motor????

I have only ever seen solid copper - I dont think carbon will last too long at 100-200 Amps!

[Defender110]

Dear Mick.
If you have a sticking starter, sometimes it can be due to the solenoid not making a clean contact, with the electrical terminals inside
of the solenoid housing Mick. the electrical terminals could just need
cleaning with a bit of emery paper
If you have a sticking starter bendix, the worm like shaft that the
cog that meshes with the starter ring gear on the flywheel, this can be
cleaned with carb cleaner first, but not too much, and the only lubricant
that you are allowed to use, is pencil lead, an HB would be fine. it does
work.
I hope this helps Mick
Vince.

/\ As Vince has said.

[Vanny]

the usual fault if bashing it gets it working is sticking/worn down carbon brush's,

over time the carbon dust from the brush's gets in between the brush and carrier which stops the brush/s sliding freely, so a tap/bash to the starter body causes the brush's to move back onto the commutator,

regards malcolm

Carbon Brushes on a starter motor????

I have only ever seen solid copper - I dont think carbon will last too long at 100-200 Amps!

While not explicitly stated, i'm pretty sure Malcolm is referring to the solenoid that fires the engagement pin/gear and supplies the power to the starter motor. 'Starter' problems are always in the solenoid and not in the motor.

I've recently watched a training video of what happens when you try to start the engine when its already doing 4000rpm. Very interesting video in the high speed video destruction category.