Starter Motor

[barker_001]

I think my starter motor is on the way out. When turning the key for the first time in the morning, all I get is a loud click from under the bonnet (solenoid?). Normally I get a click the second time too, then on the third time the starter seems to work properly. It turns the engine over at normal speed and it starts ok. I've had the battery capacity checked and it was good. The fact that when it does eventually turn over it does so at a good speed seems to point to the connections being ok too. Oddly, when the engine is warm, it seems to start normally.

Can there be any other explanation than the motor itself? If I was to get another one, does anyone have any opinions either way about getting a recon original motor, or to go for one of these new high torque starters

[robertverhey]

Coincidentally my starter motor is doing exactly the same at the moment. First thing I'll be doing (once I get it out, which is a saga in itself, from memory lotus didn't bother to put thread in the bell housing where it mounts so it's a bolt and nut arrangement in a very confined space), is to check the solenoid is moving the pinion freely. If not some light oil on the shaft should free it up. Then check whether the solenoid itself is doing what it should, ie giving the pinion a mighty shove to engage with the ring gear.

As a precaution I got a second hand starter from the wreckers....they're common to most jag xj6 starters.

Robert

[Jason.goad]

It's a long time ago in a galaxy far away, when I last recon'd a starter. From what I remember, the solenoid is very easy to remove and refurbish. It's basically a electromagnet, that pulls the starter gear onto the flywheel and closes the contacts for the starter motor to turn the engine. for what it's worth remove the starter, undo the solenoid (2x8mm bolts, clean the contacts with sand paper, make sure the arm that puts the gear onto the fly wheel moves ok. lubricate the shaft with graphite, not grease(the dust from the clutch sticks the mechanism up) pencil lead will do. put it back and give it a try. the worst is you've had a try.

[barker_001]

Fixed!

It was actually the battery. A failed Halfords Calcium 075 which was only 16 months old...

I had it tested in my local Halfords before considering the starter motor as faulty. Using their Bosch BAT121 tester, they told me the battery was at 53% capacity, which was acceptable for a car which had been standing, and that a faulty battery would show only about 30%. The test they did seemed mighty quick as well....

However, having read the many posts on here about these Halfords batteries often being replaced once (or even twice) in the 4 year warranty period, I decided to get a second opinion. I look the battery to a different Halfords, they tested it (the test took a bit longer this time, the bloke seemed to know what he was doing...), gave the capacity as 69% and the tester showed "battery unserviceable". I then had a no-quibble replacement and decided to upgrade to a Bosch Silver 075. The car has started perfectly first time since.

So my starter is OK, and I won't be touching a Halfords battery again any time soon...

[chrisw2811]

Yep. Had exactly the same symptoms on my motorcycle and - after swapping the starter motor - found it was the battery

[Lotus-e-Clan]

+ 1 for NEVER buying a Halfords battery again. I've had 2 fail within warranty - both Calcium 075s!

[alanmoss]

The second battery on my car (from new) was from Halfords. It lasted 12 years.
From an earlier post of mine on the subject of batteries:
Original battery - 8 years;
Second battery (Halfords) - 12 years;
Now on third - Varta Silver 027
Halfords battery hadn't failed but was starting to decline - have I been lucky?

[alanbell]

did halfords do calcium batteries 15 years ago?. maybe the longevity of yours was bue it being a lead acid type.

[alanmoss]

did halfords do calcium batteries 15 years ago?. maybe the longevity of yours was bue it being a lead acid type.

I think you are right. Something to be said for the old one's.

[barker_001]

I think you are right. Something to be said for the old one's.

Yes, the battery that was on my car when I got it was a Halfords one. When it did eventually give up the ghost in late 2011, the guy in Halfords recognised the old label and told me it was at least 8 years old. On the strength of that I bought another one.... how wrong I was!

All fixed now though!

[fueltheburn]

Peter only has good things to say about the lightweight odyssey dry cell batteries.
I will let you know if the 2kg Lithium iron phosphate battery I have is also up to the job.