Starting Problem

[16vmk3ash]

I have a ocassional starting problem with my car.
When i go to start it the engine dosent turn over but i get a spinning sound (i think this might be the starter motor), after a couple of attempts though something engages and it does turn over and starts!.

What do you rekon the fault is - Starter motor, Distributor or something else?

My car has done 138k

[mrwotto]

When you say spinning do you mean the starter turning over or jsut a spinning sound?

[kniterider]

the starter isnt engaging the ring gear on the fly wheel mate from the sounds of it, remove your starter motor, (disconnect your battery 1st) then youll see the gear on the end of the starter what im on about, when you turn the key this should flick forward contacting the gear on the fly wheel and starting the engine,  yours isnt doin this 1st time around so i reckon its got a bit dry, you should be able to turn the gear and it will move forward then it springs back (very hard to explain but youll under stand) clean it out by spraying it with a solvent cleaner, let it dry, then get some grease and move the gear back and forward whilst applying the grease. clean up any excess grease as you dont want it flinging it into you clutch, replace the starter and try, hopefully all your problems will be sorted!!

Gaz

[16vmk3ash]

So Gaz,  the bit that needs cleaning is attached to the end of the starter motor after i remove it? or will it be where the starter was removed from? How long should it take to remove/clean/re-grease and put back together?

THANKS

[kniterider]

right the piccy above is a basic diagram of a starter motor (there all pretty similar)

the bit that will need cleaning and greasin is the drive pinion, you will see how this moves on twisting force, so grease that area and work it a few times.

i reckon it shouldnt take more than an hour to do, just remmeber to disconnect the battery 1st, you may need to support the engine with a block of wood on a trolley jack a sim not sure wether the engine mount fits in conjunction with the starter? im not overlly familiar with mk3's but mk2's the front engine mounts fits there also.

Gaz

[knighttdi]

It looks to me that your solenoid is on the way out mate, after all if your car has done 138k.
the solenoid pushes the drive pinion gear out and this then meshes and turns the flywheel over, once the engine has started the gear the solenoid then pulls the pinion gear back in, i'd put some grease or the trusty wd40 on the gear shaft so that it has less of a struggle to push in and out, the solenoid only has three screws holding it on and is probably worth changing while the starter is off cos the little three screws were a cont to remove on mine. hope this helps

[Overseer]

not sure wether the engine mount fits in conjunction with the starter? im not overlly familiar with mk3's but mk2's the front engine mounts fits there also.

sounds about right..  was explained to me when my starter went that it forms part of the engine mounting.