Hi all, just wanted to run my starting issues past you guys in case anyone can recognise the symptoms to save me some trial and error... I have a 1977 1600cc and recently have had some starting issues when hot, it would start and run fine but if I stop for fuel in the 5 mins it would take to fuel up the starter would be very ' slow ' and after not many seconds there would be no power left to turn it over, I thought it was the battery but it's not as I've replaced that, I'm not getting any glowing red alternator light or anything either...... I've just been out to try to start it now after standing for 3 weeks and it was again a slow churn which soon faded to nothing but a click yet I left it a few minutes and it fired up ok...... It does sound like either battery , starter motor , alternator and wondered what you would think is my next likely target to try? Thanks for reading... Jase
First try the simple stuff - remove, clean and tighten battery connections and earth points. The same with connections on the back of the starter (be careful undoing these as they may be well rusted and liable to break). A hot start relay is also a good idea to fit as this reduces current through the ignition switch circuit.
Do you have an inline fuel filter ? If so is it before or after the pump!? As it should be after it. Randomly it can make a difference =]
Just an update... After ferreting about under the van I had every intention of fitting the hot start relay myself, ( thanks for the advice Iggle ) however to my untrained eye the cables at the sarter motor looked a bit grim so I bit the bullet and sent it to a auto electricians for a day ( Grimwoods in Peterborough ) they found the earth strap hanging on by a thread and the + cable to the battery three times thicker than it should have been and hammered onto the starter! The stereo was wired permanently on too...They replaced all these bits and fitted the relay and it's good as gold now, a couple of hours labour and a few quid in parts and I'm very pleased..... Just started discussions with Lizzie at Delilahs for new upholstery so just need some weather to enjoy it now...
