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Hilux starter motor

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:01 am
by dmcruising
my ln106 is having problems starting it was checked out and found that the starter was drawing too much power my question is: what is the cause and can it be fixed without replacing the whole lot as its only 2 or 3 yrs old.?
thanks
dave

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 7:37 pm
by -Scott-
Drawing too much power? How was this determined?

A starter motor without load will spin VERY fast, and not draw much current (power.) Under load (like starting an engine) it spins slower, and draws more current (power) - that's normal, and is actually rather useful. The starter produces more power when it's needed most - under load.

If there's stray resistance anywhere in the system the motor can't draw as much current, so draws less power - this can't be the problem.

If it's drawing too much power, there's either an electrical fault in the motor (shorted/low resistance windings, which a half-way competent auto electrician should be able to determine with a reasonably simple test) or excessive mechanical load - buggered bearings in the starter motor, or your engine is difficult to turn for some reason.

Take it somewhere for a second opinion.

Scott

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 8:37 pm
by dmcruising
it was checked out by a local 4wd centre who i got the starter from i'm not sure how he meant it was drawing too much power but i do know it does heat up quite a bit and i guess he meant its drawing too many Amps. i also guess it could be the bearings as it has a noise just after starting so this may create the heat as well
I will take it to an auto elec for a second opinion.
thanks scott for your reply
dave

Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 4:53 am
by ricky1970
Shoeted/arced in the windings. Will get very hot, turn over slow and battery voltage will drop heaps when you try to start it. New starter.

Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 7:10 am
by dmcruising
thanks ricky that sounds like it. I was hopeing not to have too replace it but looks like i'm up for a new starter.
trhanks
dave

Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 7:33 am
by keencdk
First things first, check all your contacts on both ends of all your cables
battery + to starter
Battery Earth to engine block
Starter Earth to engine block
remove each end of each cable, clean with some WD40 or similar and if it is not looking 100% sand lightly with emery paper to get a good contact.

I had a landcruiser starter that was doing this, turning over slowly and drawing a lot of current, while I was up at the cape. I took it out at a campsite (I was sick of clutch starting), opened it up and found that one of the 4 contacts was jammed open (dirt and grit inside the slide area). This was caused by the little rubber nipple on the bottom of the starter being ripped off at some point allowing water and mud inside.

Removed all the crap inside, cleaned all the contact points, greassed the bearing, covered the hole where the nipple was ripped out with elecky tape and reassembled. Good as new, and still going a year later.

In the end this turned out to be an easy job and cost nothing except time, and if you see something that doesn't look right you can take it to an auto elecky

Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 2:53 pm
by Lil pig
I happen to have a starter for a nl 106 2.8l diesel if you are interested. It was only used for three months from new. I dont need it anymore (v6 conversion :armsup: ). Iam at Camira QLD. $150