nonstarting

[Bibio]

Hi Guys, Im haveing trouble starting my Mistral,sometimes it will start other times it wont, It acts like the batteries are nearly dead when trying to turn the engine over.The batteries are still reading 12 volts when I checked them, I put new teminals on (still no change)as one was'nt tightening up properly.When i jump start it the allternator puts out 12.5 volts at tickover and 13.9 when reved. A freind said it could be the earth strap on the engine or gearbox,dont know where It is,(anyone know),I am going to Kwikfit to get the batteries checked out.. any ideas guys.

John

 

[jace]

starter solenoid would make it seem like youve flat batteries itd drain your batteries down quick aswell

 

[Bibio]

went to garage,they said they were too busy to check motor, tried to start it and it would nt start,guy came out with battery pack and it would hardly turn over,then it started, he said that it was the starter at fault,iI asked if it was the solinoid and he said it wasnt. He wants £90 for a reconditioned starter supplied and fitted .What do you think !.

 

[robobone]

it well my be the soleniod but this is attached to the starter and normally cannot buy it seperate

this is what lucas called a pre-engaged starter.

an inertia starter(like omn the old mini or ford escort had sepetate solenoid

 

[Bibio]

Going to get the starter tomorrow,hope that cures the problem,will let you know how it goes. Thanks Guys

John

 

[supalot]

nonestarting

BE CAREFUL before you start buying new starters ect . a mate of mine with a shogun had the same prob turned out to be bad earth connection . sucsses . supalot

 

[CaptLimey]

Hi Bibio

Supalot has a good point. Having spent a lot of time messing with marine engine and generator starters, there have been many times when bad/corroded connections have caused poor or non-starting. Check that the main cable from the battery to the starter/solenoid has a clean and secure connection. If it is, I have frequently found that just taking the starter/solenoid apart, cleaning, liberal application of WD40 and replacing it has worked. (Especially when anchored miles away from any possibility of a replacement, fitted, for 90 quid....Iwish!!!!)

However if the replacement doesn't require you to surrender the original starter, it sounds like a good deal to me. You could mess with the old one and if it works, keep it as a spare or flog it.

Regards CL

 

[Bibio]

I will check the earth tomorrow ,the starter I was going to get is an exchange unit, if it is something simple I wont know. I was told by a mechanic to put an earth onto the engine and onto the chassis or earth wire on battery as a check to see if that works.

John

 

[dinky]

Easiest way use a jump lead.

 

[Bibio]

Easiest way use a jump lead.

My thoughts too, Dinky

 

[LouLou]

Well if it is the starter and you can get a proper recon unit for that price then grab it. Cheapest I could haggle one down here to was £170!

As above though check that you have a good connection to the starter and solenoid. If the solenoid terminals are shorted with a very stout piece of bar then does it start? If so it's the solenoid or ignition probs but it doesn't sound like that.

See my none starting thread Bibio

 

[Bibio]

Well if it is the starter and you can get a proper recon unit for that price then grab it. Cheapest I could haggle one down here to was £170!

As above though check that you have a good connection to the starter and solenoid. If the solenoid terminals are shorted with a very stout piece of bar then does it start? If so it's the solenoid or ignition probs but it doesn't sound like that.

See my none starting thread Bibio

Left work tonight and motor started no proplem,got home turned it off, wouldnt restart !, noticed the battery light coming on dim as I was driving home, Headlights went dim when I tried to turn over engine. Would a faulty starter do this , or could it be the alternator ?.

Loulou could you post a link to the thread you mentioned,

Thanks John

 

[supalot]

nonestarting

hi there this still sounds like a earth problem?

 

[jace]

alternator or battery usally cause of light on try one those free test places to find out which it is

 

[robobone]

i know it sounds silly but your fan belt isnt slipping?

under laod the red light might come on dim but normally in daylight you might not see it that would also put enough charge in during the day( no light no heater etc but not enough under load

 

[Bibio]

Left motor at auto shop to get starter fitted,went to collect it and was told it was the alternator that was at fault,(said that the battery light wasnt coming on).New alternator fitted, they jumpstarted motor and I went to work about 2 miles away ,It started 10 hour later after work,I drove home (2 miles with lights on).next night started ok ,moved to front of house went to get bag when i came out it wouldnt start(sounded like the batteries were nearly dead.
Maybe it needs a good run, I will do that today (Hope thats It).

John

 

[rustic]

Left motor at auto shop to get starter fitted,went to collect it and was told it was the alternator that was at fault,(said that the battery light wasnt coming on).New alternator fitted, they jumpstarted motor and I went to work about 2 miles away ,It started 10 hour later after work,I drove home (2 miles with lights on).next night started ok ,moved to front of house went to get bag when i came out it wouldnt start(sounded like the batteries were nearly dead.
Maybe it needs a good run, I will do that today (Hope thats It).

John

Hi, on other cars I have owned, if the red ignition light bulb has failed then the alternator will not give out any charge.
The Red warning light, on one side is wired to +12 Volts on the "ignition " side and then runs to the field coils on the alternator. This gives the alternator a small magnetic field to generate the output. When the alternator is charging, the power to the alternator coil is generated by the alternator so the voltage on the other side of the bulb becomes +12 volts, so the lamp is extinguished.

You can check if the alternator is working by using a voltmeter on the battery, should be 13 - 14 volts when running.
If you haven't got a voltmeter, start the engine, put heater fan on and headlights, rear screen etc, and as you rev, the lights should get brighter and you can hear the fan speed increase. Also check that the fan belt is not slipping.
Hope this helps,
best regards, Rustic

 

[Bibio]

Looks like the Alternator has done the trick, motor going great again.

Thanks for all the help guys.

John

 

[Bibio]

Left motor for two days, would'nt start,Jump started it then drove to work (two miles),finnished work started ok then spluttered to a stop, tried to turn it over nothing happened,ignition lights did'nt go out .
Opened bonnet moved battery cables looked for loose wires. turned key and motor started, was reading a thread about faulty ignition switch,could this be the problem ?.

Any help would be great guys.

John