Sorry to run this one again, but i thought i had it nailed, and now i'm running out of steam/cash!
Recently, i had a few dodgy starts. I posted the symptoms, and the replies were helpfull. However, my description of the starting problem may have been flawed because i had my ear to the dash, and was missing the obvious clunk from a sticking starter motor..Luckilly, whilst purchasing service items from Roughtrax i'd also bought a starter repair kit, and my next door neighbour is a little bit handy with things mechanical..He removed the starter, replaced contacts and plunger and refitted..All appeared well..
Until eight days ago..Coincidence maybe, or a problem that contributed to the starter motor's downfall?
Okay..Each and every morning, i do this..Key in ignition, wait for the click, then start..(ok it's the established way, but i thought i'd assure you i was actually doing this)..What actually happens however, is giving me cause for concern..The starter will kick in just fine..But, there is a brief moment where the engine stops turning, even with the key cranked over..That "flat spot" IS brief.The motor then turns normally, but MAYBE a little slowly? (it usually starts on half a turn, and has done for four years..i really don't know what the cranking speed should be) and usually catches on the fourth or fifth cycle..It SOUNDS like the battery has died, but then it turns and fires up..and when it fires, it is a clean, smooth start.(no white smoke, and no rough running).It really is just that initial moment where all confidence surges away, because once started, it will start fine for the rest of the day..it happens first thing in the morning, and is a little reluctant if stood for eight hours at work..Leave it only an hour or so, and it'll fire on a turn with no hesitation.
On my last post, the question of "earth strap" arose, as in loose...I'm struggling to locate one? The terminals are tight, there are no dry cells and the wires that run from negative to inner wing are in fine shape, and again, tight..My radio (origional) is doing funny things..It will cut out and in for no apparent reason, and this is acompanied by a relay click..Maybe irrelevant, but no harm in mentioning it i guess..The other thing is this.The car drives fine once started, and maybe it is paranoia, but it really does sound as if i'm getting "popping" noises from underneath..My best description would be like the "tinks" that metal makes when cooling and contracting, only louder and sharper..Initially i thought it was small stones bouncing off the running boards, but it will do it whilst at standstill..i noticed that "once", maybe twice.In any case, it's a recent development..In fact, i have heard similar sounds from the alternator with the bonnet up, but couldn't say wether they've always been there..I've now got it in my mind that something may be shorting out, but that notion isn't based on anything other than rampant imagination..
Just to add..The driver's side battery is origional, the other isn't (i assume it was changed by the dealer, four or five years ago)..The batteries were tested twice, by different people (both qualified auto electricians), and pronounced healthy, although in neither case were they tested in isolation (i'm assuming this would mean dissconnecting them from eachother?). I've recently had a timing belt change at the main dealers, starter motor parts and labour, four front CV boots changed (inner and outer) for the MOT and some other bits n bobs..not a financial disaster, but i'm not now in a position to splash out on two new batteries UNLESS i can be "reasonably" confident that they are the cause (it's the fact that the first start of the day seems problematic, and subsequent starts far less so that gives me hope that battery replacement will cure my woes).
I'm not expecting a full diagnosis of course (although i wouldn't turn one down)..I'm just fishing for your thoughts.Is there anything from my post that points to one direction more than another? Ie, if it WERE batteries, the motor wouldn't turn fast enough to fire after the initial "surge"..or can two batteries, one well, one not so well..do strange things?
All input appreciated, as always.
Recently, i had a few dodgy starts. I posted the symptoms, and the replies were helpfull. However, my description of the starting problem may have been flawed because i had my ear to the dash, and was missing the obvious clunk from a sticking starter motor..Luckilly, whilst purchasing service items from Roughtrax i'd also bought a starter repair kit, and my next door neighbour is a little bit handy with things mechanical..He removed the starter, replaced contacts and plunger and refitted..All appeared well..
Until eight days ago..Coincidence maybe, or a problem that contributed to the starter motor's downfall?
Okay..Each and every morning, i do this..Key in ignition, wait for the click, then start..(ok it's the established way, but i thought i'd assure you i was actually doing this)..What actually happens however, is giving me cause for concern..The starter will kick in just fine..But, there is a brief moment where the engine stops turning, even with the key cranked over..That "flat spot" IS brief.The motor then turns normally, but MAYBE a little slowly? (it usually starts on half a turn, and has done for four years..i really don't know what the cranking speed should be) and usually catches on the fourth or fifth cycle..It SOUNDS like the battery has died, but then it turns and fires up..and when it fires, it is a clean, smooth start.(no white smoke, and no rough running).It really is just that initial moment where all confidence surges away, because once started, it will start fine for the rest of the day..it happens first thing in the morning, and is a little reluctant if stood for eight hours at work..Leave it only an hour or so, and it'll fire on a turn with no hesitation.
On my last post, the question of "earth strap" arose, as in loose...I'm struggling to locate one? The terminals are tight, there are no dry cells and the wires that run from negative to inner wing are in fine shape, and again, tight..My radio (origional) is doing funny things..It will cut out and in for no apparent reason, and this is acompanied by a relay click..Maybe irrelevant, but no harm in mentioning it i guess..The other thing is this.The car drives fine once started, and maybe it is paranoia, but it really does sound as if i'm getting "popping" noises from underneath..My best description would be like the "tinks" that metal makes when cooling and contracting, only louder and sharper..Initially i thought it was small stones bouncing off the running boards, but it will do it whilst at standstill..i noticed that "once", maybe twice.In any case, it's a recent development..In fact, i have heard similar sounds from the alternator with the bonnet up, but couldn't say wether they've always been there..I've now got it in my mind that something may be shorting out, but that notion isn't based on anything other than rampant imagination..
Just to add..The driver's side battery is origional, the other isn't (i assume it was changed by the dealer, four or five years ago)..The batteries were tested twice, by different people (both qualified auto electricians), and pronounced healthy, although in neither case were they tested in isolation (i'm assuming this would mean dissconnecting them from eachother?). I've recently had a timing belt change at the main dealers, starter motor parts and labour, four front CV boots changed (inner and outer) for the MOT and some other bits n bobs..not a financial disaster, but i'm not now in a position to splash out on two new batteries UNLESS i can be "reasonably" confident that they are the cause (it's the fact that the first start of the day seems problematic, and subsequent starts far less so that gives me hope that battery replacement will cure my woes).
I'm not expecting a full diagnosis of course (although i wouldn't turn one down)..I'm just fishing for your thoughts.Is there anything from my post that points to one direction more than another? Ie, if it WERE batteries, the motor wouldn't turn fast enough to fire after the initial "surge"..or can two batteries, one well, one not so well..do strange things?
All input appreciated, as always.
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