Bora TDI sluggish starter

[DIYspanner]

I didn't use jump leads. I took the Bora battery off and put the 45 TD battery on.

As I mentioned, it was still sluggish but I didn't checked cranking voltage with 45's battery on.

With the 45's battery back on, the 45 started no bother.

Seems to be the starter. In evidence, occasionally there's a screech from the starter when it disengages.


When I bought the Bora's battery last December last year, the bloke in the motor factors told me modern cars are NOT supposed to be jump started - another fable ?

 

[Burnerman]

Modern cars shouldn't be push started.....that may give the cat a douse of unburnt fuel. That's the popular concept anyway! Nothing the matter with jump leads and a donor vehicle but cross connect even for a second and it's bye bye alternator.
So....a shrieking starter. There are a few reasons for this, none that we can prove from here but :
The starter gear and shaft are worn
The number of teeth on the starter pinion is incorrect
A dowel or spacer is missing on the starter bolts, creating misalignment ( this often causes a shriek on starting too).
Have you the old starter to compare?
John

 

[DIYspanner]

I'll be taking the starter back off tomorrow to take to the scrappy for a replacement.

Its occurred to me that the screech could be a dry/stiff bearing in the starter causing drag when the starter's spinning ?

 

[Burnerman]

For sure it could be, but the starter drive mustn't be swimming in lube......Duck Oil is the recommended spray.
Starter alignment is a definite issue.....sometimes the bolts are sleeved with a hollow dowel and these mustn't be left out. Unfortunately not many people know that they are there, never mind what they are for!
John

 

[DaveHerns]

A scrapyard starter might be no better than your "recon" starter. Is your sister that hard up ?

 

[DIYspanner]

May just buy the refurbed unit of ebay - only £15 more and has 12 months warranty.

You can't buy a new house and a new car at the same time!

 

[Belle427]

False economy to use second hand parts for such a critical item, go for the refurbed unit, at least you have some kind of warranty.

 

[DaveHerns]

I'm all for saving money but you have to be sensible. Plus there's all your time and effort or doesn't she value that?

 

[DIYspanner]

Further to this delightful saga, I tried to get the solenoid apart to have a look at the contacts.

Sods law, of the x3 torx screws, I could only get one out.

I took the nut and washers of the stub that battery cable fastens onto and sprayed some electrical cleaner on the stud and got a bit to drip down inside the cap.

Put the starter back together and back on the car and it seems to have improved.

Just a pity I couldn't get the other two screws out, take the solenoid apart and give the contacts a good clean.

See how it goes!

 

[Burnerman]

A recon starter should really include a new solenoid......they are about £20 and it's a fair bet it's at the root of your bother. As well as sliding the starter gear into mesh, it also switches high current to the starter so it does get a hard life.
John

 

[DIYspanner]

The towel has been thrown in!

After I put the starter back on today, I took the car for a spin to give the battery a charge up. As I came back, a bit of a whine started when turning the wheel. Check the PAS fluid and a bit low so I topped it up.

My sister went out in the car tonight she reckons a hell of a whine started and the steering went very stiff - PAS pump I think!

Anyway, she going to get a new car!

Just a pity she spent £44 on oil and filters a month ago.

Thanks for the postings folks.

 

[DaveHerns]

A new new car or a new old car?

 

[DIYspanner]

2nd hand with a budget of £3000

I'm tasked to go and see a 58 reg Golf 1.9 TDI tomorrow.

 

[Burnerman]

Spanner, you have the patience of a saint
Good luck with your search - check for timing belt replacement and front wishbone bushes on a Golf, hoping the mileage isn't galactic!
John

 

[DIYspanner]

patience of a saint or just a simple mug, hard to say which, easier to pick a new USA president!