Starter motor not working

[tobz.]

Ok this problem's actually on my bus but as it is a generic area I thought I'd post it on this forum anyway.
Got in my bus this morning to go to work, turned the key and no starter motor 
The relay in the dash clicks when I turn the key into the start position but the starter still doesn't operate. The fact that the dash relay operates indicates that the ignition switch is still ok so I'm thinking it must be one of three things:

1) Sticking starter solenoid (although I gave it whack with a hammer this morning and still nothing)
2) Voltage supply not getting through to the solenoid
3) Broken earth strap on the engine

What do you think?

I had been working on it all day yesterday carrying out a service and everything was working fine at half seven last night.

Toby

P.S. didn't post this in the garage section as it's not golf related

[Agreeable Slick]

still getting a steady flow of charge to the battery, mine did this and it was the regulator in the alternator. Check the volts coming from the alternator and the battery, could be easier to fix than you think.

[tobz.]

I'm pretty sure the battery is alright, I was using it all day on saturday doing lots of short journeys round town with no problem. If the charging circuit/battery was at fault I would still expect the engine to turn over allbeit slowly. However I'm getting no starter action at all not even the click you would expect when you have a really flat battery. I think it has to be the supply to the solenoid or the solenoid itself that isn't switching the supply to motor on.

[Agreeable Slick]

nope mine didn't either. Lights on the dash lit up like everything was fine, fuel pump even primed. Went to turn over and no movement whatsoever.

Had to call out rac, and they had to jump it off the 24v supply. 

[richandhazel]

I must admit if the charge gets too low in my battery on the cabrio then when you switch on the ignition, the fuel pump primes and the dasboard comes to life but the starter will not operate. In older golf's when you attempted to start, the whole dash would fade and the lights would dim etc., but that doesn't seem to happen with this one so I guess there must be an undervoltage protection circuit in there so that everything doesn't reset when you attempt to start.
Try puting a voltmeter on the battery whilst attempting to crank. My voltage drops to around 8 to 9V when the charge is too low to operate the starter.

[tobz.]

I'll measure the voltage tonight and try and jump it off my gf's driver (not risking my ecu) if that all fails I guess I'll have to get underneath and start measuring voltages on the solenoid/starter.

[Overseer]

probably difficult to test due to the weight of the beast.. but does it bump start?

hopefully the jump start thing works..

[tobz.]

Bump starting will be the last resort (don't fancy trying to push 2.4tons down the road) but if it comes to it I'll try. Been doing some reading on the volkszone forum and from what I can make out the solenoid on the starter is powered directly from the key switch not via a relay. Looks like the ignition switch could also be at fault if it's not passing enough current to activate the solenoid. Also the solenoid draws its current through the starter itself so if the brushes are shot then that could be another cause. Got details of a couple of 'short with a screwdriver' type tests aswell to check the motor/solenoid, hmmm could be fun.

[Overseer]

good luck with the screwdriver stuff then.. hopefully somethings just furred up a bit.. or loose..

[tobz.]

Yep I was lucky seer!
Tested the ignition switch, that was all ok.
Jump-starting made no difference, I was about to walk away for the evening when i couldn't resist popping under the van for a quick nose about.
It turned out the spade connector was all loose and corroded on the solenoid. bit of contact cleaner and a nip with some pliers and job's a good 'un. Van fired up straight away and I got that free-fix warm glow!!!