Starting Problems...

[nickw86au]

My 1.3 wt sierra (89) is tempermental about starting - every now and then, (a coupla times per week) I turn the key and get nothing. The battery is fine, I can use the lights ect and the 'startup check' lights come on the dash, the starter motor just does nothing . I can then clutch start it and usually the next time I go to start it its fine.

It started happening after a week of solid rain, so i though maybe a connection to the starter motor had gotten wet, and perhaps corroded. I cleaned these up with sandpaper and I still have the same problem

Could it be a short somewhere between the ignition and the starter?? and where would I look?? Have resorted to trying to park on the downhill whereever possible just in case... once I was going on a trail and the bloody thing wouldn't start and I was facing uphill - major pain in the but!!

Well any suggestions appreciated, as I won't be going back onto the dunes till I can fix it - can't imagine trying to push in the sand!!

Nick

[christover1]

I had my starter die in middle of Adventure Tour trip, it was a pita.

It is most likely your starter motor is about to die.

This is how many of my starters have gone, before final dying.

Have you tried banging the solenoid, in case its sticking.

Or applying power direct to the starter and/or solenoid to see if that works?

Sometimes the wiring gets old, and a relay can solve the issue

christover

[HRZOOK]

Sounds a little like this as per what Chris said

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... highlight=

[nickw86au]

Thanks guys, will have a go.

in middle of Adventure Tour trip, it was a pita.

It always seems to happen right at the worst moment, eh? thanks again.

[nickw86au]

Stalled in traffic and of course it decided not to start... WILL BE SERIOUSLY LOOKED AT THIS WEEKEND!!! I think i'll follow the leads right from the ignition to the starter motor and clean any joins, - if that doesnt work then it'll be a new starter motor...

[Bad JuJu]

Would cost about $10 to see if the ignition wireing was the problem.

You need 4 bits of wire.
2 insulated Crimp on rings
5 insulated female spade connectors
1 insulated male spade Connector
1 Fused 30 amp relay
1 6mm nut bolt and spring washer

Make 2 wires with a ring on one end and a female spade on the other.
Make 1 wire with a female spade on each end.
Make 1 wire with a male spade one end on one female on the other.

Disconnect battery

Connect the existing ignition wire to pin 85 on relay using the male spade -->female spade wire as an extention.
Connect pin 86 to ground with a female spade -->ring wire (I also mounted the relay with the 6mm nut and bolt that grounds this wire)
Connect pin 87 to where old ignition wire connected with a female spade -->female spade wire
Connect pin 30 to Battery with a spade -->ring wire & reconnect the battery

Follow this for install pics etc --> http://www.izook.com/reviews/clicky_fix/clickyfix.htm

If that does not help its new/rebuilt starter time .... like me.

One hint though, If you pull out the starter get an opinion from an auto electrician on rebuild, cause I have been quoted $350 for a new one from supercrap and $248 from Auto Pro.
Mine is being rebuilt for about $90 next week about the same as a second hand unit of unknown condition.

The top bolt and nut sux to put back in, hope your hands are smaller than mine.

[christover1]

mine was $110 inc gst to have rebuilt, with me doing the removal and refitting.
I got big hands and a big gut, yep, bolts are a bugger
clean connections are important, including starter to box surfaces...I had a bolt come loose, once, and retightening and cleaning fixed it.

christover

[lay80n]

Also check earth from neg bat terminal to block, just near starter motor. Mine has done similar things when the earth came loose.
Layto....

[nickw86au]

Have you tried banging the solenoid, in case its sticking.

christover

Tapped it when it refused to start (after running only an hour beforehand...) and it started today... what does this mean? how does the soleniod work/what does it do?? (its the bit on the side of the starter motor isn't it??)

Doesn't sound like the 'clicky start problem' highlighted here (http://www.izook.com/reviews/clicky_fix/clickyfix.htm), cause when I turn the key I get nothing whatsoever (when it happens).

[Bad JuJu]

You might have mud/sand/rust in the solenoid preventing the plunger from freely moving, easy to take apart and clean.

[nickw86au]

You might have mud/sand/rust in the solenoid preventing the plunger from freely moving, easy to take apart and clean.

How bout a combination of the above?!? thanks for that, will have a go at it this weekend if time permits.

Cheer, Nick