starter Motor problem????

[walchy01]

Hi there

Over the past few months i have noticed that the 16v struggles to turn over from time to time, abit like when your battery is flat, but it is not,today been all over in it, parked it on the drive turned it off, then decided to move it almost straight away, turned the key and nothing, turned again nothing, turned again and it started, no clicking though that you normally associate with the starter motor playing up, is this an early sign that the starter motor is on its way out??

Suggestions please

Thank you

[emery1990]

yer the starter motor sounds the culprit, mine did exactly the same until it died completely, resulting in a reverse downhill bump start !

[lingl9z]

Mines started doing the same, sometimes it'll half turn the engine and i have to turn the ignition off and on a few times and then it fires! I'll be keeping a hmmer in my boot and if it stops completely will give it a hit and try again, starters seem to be quiet expensive new.... !

[emery1990]

lol i had mywheel spanner handy when mine was going, used to always do it when filling up too  :embarassed: I got mine new for £70ish at a motor factors from a mate, bosch ones are like £180!!

[lingl9z]

Lol thats quiet a deal buddy I'll use my hammer if it goes and then hope I find a replacement

[tony_ack]

If you're sure the battery is okay, check the condition of the leads going to the starter - on my 8v they had worn pretty badly and the starter was struggling to get enough voltage to start the car. On some occasions it wouldn't start at all - then I moved the culprit wire then it started first touch of the key.

Worth a check before you start hunting for a new starter.

[Reasty]

Had this exact issue a few months ago,the car would randomly not crank when i turned the key,no clicking or attempting or anything
It would also happen alot when the car was hot after a run or if i needed to stop to get fuel whilst going somewhere long distance
(not good when ya stuck in a petrol station) Anyway it was the starter motor that was slowly dying,so bought a new one and not had a single issue with it since,starts on the key every time.
I did go for a bosch one and yes they are £130ish but aftermarket ones are between £60-£80,and ill bet you have to buy two of them by the time you need to replace the bosch one,my last one was on the car when the last owner (a mate) had the car and he had it for 4 years and ive had it for 7 so makes sense really imo 

[emery1990]

yer spose but if your planning on keeping the car for that long, doubt ill keep mine for 5 years tbh, if it was yearly thing id understand. Plus £60 x 2 is £120 so still cheaper 

[walchy01]

Looks like I'll be buying Bosch one then, cos I'm never selling valver, EVER

[emery1990]

Best keep it for longer than 8 years otherwise youd kick yaself you could of saved £10 !!