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Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Topic started by: mattmk4 on 01 June 2011, 21:18

Title: Broke it!
Post by: mattmk4 on 01 June 2011, 21:18
Thought i would have a useful evening and replace some bits i needed doing

First of all i replaced the passenger wing, front bumper and painted the bump strip as it had some marks from a towbar being parked against it (before i had it)

and while i was doing that i thought i would clean out the dreaded starter motor because of it whining

Well it didnt have a lot in it to be fair so after a clean up i stuck it back on.........Started first time with no noise and now nothing.

No clicking, just the fuel pump chucking fuel in



What could i have done? shall i just get a re-con starter motor now?
Title: Re: Broke it!
Post by: richw911 on 01 June 2011, 21:19
Broken wire to the starter?  :undecided:
Title: Re: Broke it!
Post by: mattmk4 on 01 June 2011, 21:21
it started first time i tried it after re-fitting


It will bump start too
Title: Re: Broke it!
Post by: dashey on 01 June 2011, 21:21
Check the little plug thats is on the starter motor make sure its on proply
Title: Re: Broke it!
Post by: richw911 on 01 June 2011, 21:22
it started first time i tried it after re-fitting


It will bump start too

As i said check the wiring as you have disturbed it  :wink:
Title: Re: Broke it!
Post by: mattmk4 on 01 June 2011, 21:52
it started first time i tried it after re-fitting


It will bump start too

As i said check the wiring as you have disturbed it  :wink:
wiring is fine, just double checked it. i get a click at best.

i get the impression that the starter has jammed when the engine stopped
Title: Re: Broke it!
Post by: Wayne on 01 June 2011, 22:04
Are you saying the fuel pump is running all the time.
Title: Re: Broke it!
Post by: Wazzzer on 01 June 2011, 22:09
Don't bump start it if you value your catalyst
Title: Re: Broke it!
Post by: richw911 on 01 June 2011, 22:11
Don't bump start it if you value your catalyst

+1
Title: Re: Broke it!
Post by: Trispage on 01 June 2011, 22:13
Have you made sure the little single wire to the starter motor solenoid is intact. Mine was running for a month just by the two bits resting together. Worth a shot
Title: Re: Broke it!
Post by: mattmk4 on 01 June 2011, 22:23
I can hear the fuel pump prime when i turn the key.
At best i get a click when i turn the key but that only works once or twice.

The single red wire is deffo in tact unless it is knackered in the plug itself but i cant pull the lead out if i give it a tug.

I have checked my earths and i have tried to jump it just in case the battery had de-charged (clutching!)

It makes me think i have jammed the starter or knackered it somehow purely because it started first time and when i re-started it wouldnt ( a matter of seconds)
Title: Re: Broke it!
Post by: Big Tone on 01 June 2011, 23:27
My main cable to starter snapped, started fine, drove a bit, then nothing.
A bit suspect that you have been working on it but these mk4 gremlins have a habit of happening st the strangest of times.

Had drill out the clamp and re solder the wire.
Title: Re: Broke it!
Post by: mattmk4 on 02 June 2011, 13:29
ok i will have another look when i get home.

I'll test for power to the starter itself from the battery and then the single wire plug onto the starter. Should it be 12V on the red on ignition?

now the only thing i should have mentioned is that the little black tab that sits between the positive and the neg terminals on the starter itself, broke off when i removed it. Could it be arcing and effectively mean i have no power to the motor?
Title: Re: Broke it!
Post by: mattmk4 on 02 June 2011, 19:11
Fixed it!!

got a price of £101 from andrew price and didnt like the idea of parting with it so i went home and took it back out.

I didnt notice this before because i didnt take the cylinder section apart but as soon as i did the earth strap fell apart.

Re-soldered the connection back together and it now runs fine.

Thanks for all your help!!
Title: Re: Broke it!
Post by: houston on 02 June 2011, 19:44
how did you grease it if you didnt take it to bits to coat the orbital gears? i can guarantee you itll start screeching again soon if you havent done it properly (i speak from experience)
Title: Re: Broke it!
Post by: mattmk4 on 02 June 2011, 19:52
i greased the gears but i didnt take the magnet section apart, it wasnt until i removed the 2 screws on the top to expose where the earth braid attaches inside that i realised it has come apart
Title: Re: Broke it!
Post by: houston on 02 June 2011, 20:55
i greased the gears but i didnt take the magnet section apart, it wasnt until i removed the 2 screws on the top to expose where the earth braid attaches inside that i realised it has come apart

ah right, you dont wanna release the magnet anyway, its an absolute bastard to get them sitting properly again if you take that bit to pieces, i ended up having to buy another starter for my mk3 cos of it
Title: Re: Broke it!
Post by: Dave_IOW on 02 June 2011, 21:58
Glad you got it sorted. My black wire broke on the terminal and i had to keep prodding it with a stick  :lipsrsealed:  till i got to another weekend to sort it properly!