bad starter? or... maybe not?

chrishelakdo110

Well-known member
I know lots of threads regarding starting issues, haven't found answer to my issue, so i'll see what you folks think.

Unable to start my 2.5NA. Had a short lived issue a week ago, where acted like dead battery after starting fine and driving few miles for lunch. After lunch, unable to start, heard click click.. jumped from my wife's van without issue. Charged battery, and ran fine for the week. Then over this weekend started fine multiple times, ran great, then stranded in parking lot getting dog food with no warning.. FML. Had jump box with me, no help. Lots of rapid clicking, as if short in wire or bindel not completely engaged. tried bypassing ignition switch with screwdriver - no difference. tried again with jump box, again have strong rapid clicking. tried jumping with wife van again.. no change. Removed starter and bench tested - thought i had a faulty starter... seems normal - bindel pushes out to end, no rapid clicking/bouncing, and sounds strong. So, what I thought was a starter issue, maybe no? Battery may be an issue - only read 12.12 V, is less than 6 months old though, and I used batter to bench test without issue. Had alternator checked - passed at high RPM, at idle I got a REGULATOR error? All fuses pass. Not sure what to check next, or where problem lies. Thanks for any insight.
 

Tbaumer

Technical Excellence Contributor
Correct me if I'm wrong - I'm thinking check the wire between battery & starter. If it is corroded or compromised, it may not be making enough connectivity at times. You can read enough volts without being able to carry the high amps at start. Would explain why the bench test was good.
 

CDN38

Well-known member
Tbaumer has a very good point. Checking the terminal clamps, and the wire to the starter, also check the ground, that can often be an issue.
 

chrishelakdo110

Well-known member
Update ... bench tested starter on vehicle with load of engine. Starter cranks, but not at normal speed, is sluggish. Is this to be expected? Clearly have some electrical issues between battery and starter +\- a worm out starter motor. Recommendations or thoughts on your experience would be helpful
 

chrishelakdo110

Well-known member
9045
 

Napalm00

Technical Excellence Contributor
this is tough one dude, id triple check the ignition circuit coming from the switch/relay (depending on year). and if its good, id just replace the starter.

I had a starter that sometimes just wouldn't work, at all. would click and just not move. when bench tested would work fine. I gutted it and found a worn brush feed cable. the jacket was rubbed through, depending on how the starter was oriented it would short to the case and the unit wouldn't work.

The 3KW starters that Robert has are nice, sometimes you can fin NOS valeo 3kw units on ebay but its a crap shoot
 

chrishelakdo110

Well-known member
Bought a new Proline one from rovers north. I’m thinking it’s the starter. Relays work and I can’t find a short anywhere. Hopefully will be the solution.
 
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