Maverick not cranking. Need help

[GHDirect]

Hi All.
My 97 Maverick 2.7TDI while parked last few days has suddenly grown a fault.
Ignition lights all come on and look right but move key to start and it won't crank. Just a quiet click from somewhere.
I thought battery, so charged it over night to be sure.
The little red light above dash (what ever it does) is blinking every second and goes out with key in.

As under the bonnet is so reliable past few years I have no idea where to start my search.

Help!!!!!!

 

[solarman216]

The blinking light is the NATS warning light, if it goes out with the key in and on then this tells you that the correct key has been used and NATS is turned off, sounds like the clicking you hear is the relay that if working properly sends power to the solenoid on the starter, so first off you need to locate the clicking relay and check if you have power on the output terminal (a diagram is on the relay), if you have power out then check that the small spade push terminal is on and tight (they have been known to fall off due to engine movement) if you have power here when the key is turned then your starter is goosed, if on the other hand you had no power out on the clicking relay then this relay is bad, hope this helps, it is worth remembering that the full circuit on the starter solenoid goes through the armature brushes, so a period of non use can sometimes cause a bad connection here which can sort itself once the starter motor turns, hence the old get out with one person turning the key while the other whacks the starter with a bar, the shock can make the spring loaded brushes make contact, Rick

 

[GHDirect]

Hi Rick Thanks for pointers.
Can now confirm problem is within starter unit.
Have given starter unit a tap but no joy so it needs to come off.
Not nice job when your old like me and the vehicle is stuck outside on gravel path.
Just need a dry weather day.

 

[GHDirect]

Hi Rick.
Just found a heavier bar to give it one last belt and whoppee thats freed the unit, all starting O/K.
However if its done it once it could do it again so I think it needs get on a mate's ramp, taking off lubricate and check.
Thanks again
G H Direct

 

[solarman216]

Glad you got it going, first thing to look at will be the brushes I will expect them to be pretty much worn out, so spring pressure is a lot less than it should be, if not that then oil/grease contamination, Rick