Starter clacking

1. Gabbastard Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2002 United Kingdom Posts: 8390

   #1 8th March 2014, 21:51

   Nice fresh battery, tons of juice in it so its not that. But when I turn the key I can hear the fuel pump prime but last turn of the key....nothing. The engine doesnt turn over, theres just a loud sharp "CLACK" which sounds like the starter.
   
   What would cause it, sticky starter?
2. user_66615 Infrequent Poster Joined: Jan 2014 Bristol, City of Posts: 159 Saxo 1.4 furio Saxo 1.1 Desire Peugeot 107

   #2 8th March 2014, 21:54

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Gabbastard Nice fresh battery, tons of juice in it so its not that. But when I turn the key I can hear the fuel pump prime but last turn of the key....nothing. The engine doesnt turn over, theres just a loud sharp "CLACK" which sounds like the starter. What would cause it, sticky starter?

   sounds like the starter motor is knackered euro car parts is cheap for them
3. wullvfr Established Member Joined: Jan 2009 killin,perthshire Posts: 1561 Audi a3 1.8sport,kawasaki zx9r c2,Yamaha R1 track

   #3 8th March 2014, 21:56

   Could be,try giving it a tap......have you got a multimeter?
   
   Also try bridging the connections on the solenoid with a screwdriver with the ignition on,it should crank the engine unless the starter is absolutely buggered.
4. user_39461 Super Moderator Joined: Nov 2009 Cambridge(ish), UK. Posts: 10581 BMW 5x M50d.

   #4 9th March 2014, 12:49

   Does the engine actually turn? IE, not seized?
5. Gabbastard Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2002 United Kingdom Posts: 8390

   #5 9th March 2014, 21:29

   Engine bump starts no bother, runs perfectly otherwise so Im assuming it is just the starter.
6. wullvfr Established Member Joined: Jan 2009 killin,perthshire Posts: 1561 Audi a3 1.8sport,kawasaki zx9r c2,Yamaha R1 track

   #6 9th March 2014, 21:48

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Gabbastard Engine bump starts no bother, runs perfectly otherwise so Im assuming it is just the starter.

   
   If 12v is getting to it,then yeah it's more than likely fucked.
   
   Its more so the solenoid that fails,this is usually the clicking noise you'll get or lack of at times.
   
   If you bridge the connections and bypass the switch this allows the starter to turn as its getting direct voltage but in this case that's pointless as you need to replace it.
7. Mickswan Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Apr 2013 Jarrow Posts: 4022 2003 Icelandic Grey 16v VTR 1991 Daihatsu GTti

   #7 9th March 2014, 22:15

   I had this on an old car with a bad earth.
8. Manwhore Infrequent Poster Joined: Jul 2005 Glasgow United Kingdom (Scotland) Posts: 107 2 saxo vts , ax vts , 4.7 V8 jeep

   #8 10th March 2014, 09:23

   get it started , bring it over and i'll put my dads acnient machine on it
9. D4MJT Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2009 Morpeth Posts: 2539 BMW 116d Regional Toner Sales Edition

   #9 10th March 2014, 09:33

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Gabbastard Nice fresh battery, tons of juice in it so its not that. But when I turn the key I can hear the fuel pump prime but last turn of the key....nothing. The engine doesnt turn over, theres just a loud sharp "CLACK" which sounds like the starter. What would cause it, sticky starter?

   Could be a sticky starter, could also be that the connections on the starter aren't done up tightly, when I put my engine back in it did something very similar to this and one of the earths wasn't tight.
   
   Have you tried waving a shortbread at it and using an irn bru fuel additive?
10. Gabbastard Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2002 United Kingdom Posts: 8390

    #10 10th March 2014, 10:20

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by D4MJT Could be a sticky starter, could also be that the connections on the starter aren't done up tightly, when I put my engine back in it did something very similar to this and one of the earths wasn't tight. Have you tried waving a shortbread at it and using an irn bru fuel additive?

    i tried seeing if i could feed it a deep fried mars bar. no joy. Connections are tight as fuck too.
    
    Manwhore, is that the battery tester machine? That thing gives me the fear.
11. D4MJT Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2009 Morpeth Posts: 2539 BMW 116d Regional Toner Sales Edition

    #11 10th March 2014, 10:31

    daft one but is the big earth on top of the gearbox sound and not corroded?
12. Gabbastard Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2002 United Kingdom Posts: 8390

    #12 10th March 2014, 10:41

    Yeah its really clean, I dremelled it all last time.
13. D4MJT Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2009 Morpeth Posts: 2539 BMW 116d Regional Toner Sales Edition

    #13 10th March 2014, 10:45

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Gabbastard Yeah its really clean, I dremelled it all last time.

    Perhaps it's just the cars way of saying you're fat, and the push start will do you good!
14. Gabbastard Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2002 United Kingdom Posts: 8390

    #14 10th March 2014, 13:11

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by D4MJT Perhaps it's just the cars way of saying you're fat, and the push start will do you good!

    i am hench as fuk m8

    2 users thanked this post: chompy, D4MJT
15. blackie_2k5 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Oct 2008 Birtley Posts: 22253 VTR Turbo, 106 xsi track slag, Transit recovery, B

    #15 10th March 2014, 15:03

    sounds like end of life for the starter
16. Gabbastard Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2002 United Kingdom Posts: 8390

    #16 14th March 2014, 12:50

    Fitted a new (reconditioned) starter there. Car fires up really strongly as soon as the key goes yo last position now, so Im assuming the starter was dying gradually and I never realised how chronic it was getting.