In preparartion for next weeks MOT I decided to get out and give the bus a once over and take her for a spin to ensure the brakes wern't bound after a 2 month lay up. And she no start. Had juice, could hear the solenoid click but nada. Ended up bumping her. Driving around for a while then parking up. Tried again and the starter worked like a dream. Any idea why i would get this intimitent fault? This is the second time its happened (last year on the way to camperjam) and so wondered if my starter is on the way out or whether this is just one of those things....
If you can check the earths too - I had a rusty post on the back of the solonoid which would cause a click and no starty....
Driving around with a hung up starter can be bad (Risk of fire). If it doesnt start and you give it a taperoo and then it starts then its a hung starter. Worn bush or loose bolts are the usual suspects.
If it does it again you could put it in gear and rock her back and forth. What all the others said. Bad electrical connections, poorly fitted (bolts) or something a little more time cosuming/costly. Try the connections and bolts first.
Ok. Just got in from work and tried to turn her over. Nothing. So its intermitent. Tomorrow when its light i'll disconnect the battery then get under there. Tighten the bolts, give them a clean then see if that does the trick. If nothing then I'll take if off snd clean it. Tried rocking back and forth but was on my own and no joy. To be honest i need the reliability as I dont want to get stuck with the family on board. MOT Saturday and need this like a hole in the head....
Hi I had similar but was just a battery on the way out. Seemed to have juice RE lights, volts but actually no cranking power at all. Fine when warm and engine easier to turn over but solenoid just clicking when cold. New battery, cleaning the starter connections and battery earth and all well since. May save you trouble for the MOT. I just "borrowed" the battery from my daily initially to see if it was the problem. Cheers Ben
Thanks everyone for all of the suggestions. Will get the voltmeter on the spade connector, clean all connections and see what's what. Might be able to borrow a charger as well. Jon
I had this dude...spent a trip up North waiting a couple of hours to start it till I had a revelation and bridged the starter with a spanner ( in neutral, handbrake on and my legs clear of the wheels...disclaimer ) and it turned out my ignition switch was past it...put in a new one and starts every time first turn of the key.
Dont think its the switch. Just popped out there again in the dark and my 'idiot lights' dimmeds when i turned the key. Everything i've read seems to suggest that means the switch is ok. Voltmeter and charger tomorrow. Have to say i am intrigued and ultimately i should know my way around that end of the ignition by the end of it which is no bad thing....
Wouldnt you know it. Picked my boy up from nursery on my way home in my KG. Turned the key. Oil, Gen light on - no start. Quick thrash about underneath with the wheel brace and away we went. If it does it once more then its a new one for me.
Dr Ben wins a fat cigar. After a nights charge the battery showed 12 volts on the meter and fired first time. Basic error I suppose but I was conned by the fact that the lights were bright and the radio worked!!! Not convinced the battery Will last another winter though. Anyone have a view how much juice the starter needs to turn over? Thanks everyone for the advice. Interesting interlude.
just the earth the stereo would not come on on mine.. so while i was working oon it i put battery charger on it went from charging to fully in minutes. will be cleaning the earth up when i next look in the engine compartment.
Why thank you! In Norway at the moment though so cigars would likely spoil my view of the aurora borealis!
