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Starter Motor Woes Suggestions?

#1 User is offline   StevenRaith 

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Posted 04 October 2014 - 12:32 PM

Symptoms - turn key, all lights come on as per normal, fuel pump whirrs, but turning the key simply does nothing - a couple of the lights (fuel low, screen washer IIRC) go out and a couple of the lights (ABS/TSC IIRC) come on, but no click from the solenoid, no whirr from the starter, nothing.

No popped fuses - all are spot on.

Bump starts fine and runs perfectly - once it's running.

I'm guessing:
Poor wiring (disconnected wire somewhere)
Duff starter motor.

Not much else it could be? I'm ignoring ECU/immobiliser as the key turns to the 'crank' position as expected (And locks out after return to prevent the car cranking when running) and it bump starts OK - if the immobiliser or ECU had a problem, I'd expect that to not work.

I do have a voltmeter but last night it decided that measuring DC volts was beyond it (tested against a couple of known good AA batteries - no reading) so I can't test that immediately, but when attempting to crank, the cabin lights don't dim (the clock back light goes off, as expected) so it doesn't look like the starter is drawing any current.

Going to have a crawl under the car in the wet later, but if you lovely lot have any bright ideas to save me getting soaked, I'm all ears.

#2 User is offline   happy-kat 

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Posted 04 October 2014 - 02:27 PM

Gosh I know I have read similar starting threads and it was not the battery.
Without searching alternator is a memory job.
But a search I think will reveal options I think.
searching is fruitful | I'm a sponge not a mechanic | please do try that if stuck with a Puma problem whilst waiting for a reply | For the Puma fan this read 'The Inside Story Book' is very nice to own sometimes still seen for sale

#3 User is offline   StevenRaith 

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Posted 04 October 2014 - 07:13 PM

I did have a search, but didn't find much - starters are generally pretty reliable.

Voltage drop when key twisted to 'start' position so I think the solenoid is dead/shorting etc. Going to bump the car tomorrow and get it to my mechanic, and do the ritualistic emptying of the wallet of the wallet into the engine bay....

What do you mean about alternators? I saw that they seemed to be connected via physical wiring, is there any link between them otherwise?

#4 User is offline   happy-kat 

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Posted 04 October 2014 - 08:33 PM

Sorry can't help mechanically.
I thought I recalled the word being mentioned with starting but I guess to quote Turby perhaps a little knowledge is dangerous and I just fell into that bucket.
searching is fruitful | I'm a sponge not a mechanic | please do try that if stuck with a Puma problem whilst waiting for a reply | For the Puma fan this read 'The Inside Story Book' is very nice to own sometimes still seen for sale

#5 User is offline   happy-kat 

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Posted 04 October 2014 - 08:41 PM

This has lots of stuff in it
http://www.pumapeopl...0starting&st=20
searching is fruitful | I'm a sponge not a mechanic | please do try that if stuck with a Puma problem whilst waiting for a reply | For the Puma fan this read 'The Inside Story Book' is very nice to own sometimes still seen for sale

#6 User is offline   StevenRaith 

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Posted 05 October 2014 - 11:37 AM

Not terribly relevant I think - battery power is fine. Runs fine when bumped. Starter just does nowt. I'll try jumping it this afternoon in case it is a load based issue (IE battery reporting OK voltage, but unable to deliver amps) but it's an outside chance methinks.

#7 User is offline   StevenRaith 

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Posted 05 October 2014 - 05:26 PM

Jumping made no difference, and power is getting to the solenoid when the key is turned to position III - so looks like a duff starter solenoid, which means new starter motor.

Bumped the car, dropped it off at my mechanics workshop, popped the keys through his letterbox as requested. Fingers crossed he can get a starter tomorrow.

#8 User is offline   happy-kat 

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Posted 05 October 2014 - 05:48 PM

hope that turns out to be your issue :)
searching is fruitful | I'm a sponge not a mechanic | please do try that if stuck with a Puma problem whilst waiting for a reply | For the Puma fan this read 'The Inside Story Book' is very nice to own sometimes still seen for sale

#9 User is offline   StevenRaith 

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Posted 22 October 2014 - 08:38 PM

Update - yes, yes it did. Car now starting under it's own power.

The alternator decided to shit itself today, however. Handily, thanks to rotten guts, so was I. So a day off work, and installed the alternator Ian got me (good old PumaBits!) and it's back in rude health again.

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