Micra K12 - wont start when warm?

mattylad · 27 Jun 2011

Hi folks, I wonder if anyone can shed any light on the problem with my wifes car.

It starts fine in the morning, gets her 10 miles or so away & she goes into a supermarket etc.

Comes out maybe 20-30 minutes later and it wont start.
Turing the key all the electrics work but it wont start, there is no sound of the starter engaging.

Leave it for a while and later it will start.

This seems to be once it has heated up, its not done it for a long time but has today on such a hot day.
I suggested over the phone to open the bonnet to let it cool, 15 minutes later it worked.

I have stripped, cleaned & tested the keyswitch - that is fine so I'm thinking next it may be the engine management.

Could it be anything else - any suggestions on what to try next?

Mursal · 27 Jun 2011

You will have to get the car hot and check the supply and return (earth) to the starter for a bad connection.

Next put a bulb or voltmeter to the control wire going to the starter and see if you can turn it on and off with the key.

If all is OK, then the problem is in the starter motor.

mattylad · 27 Jun 2011

Cheers - I was thinking of doing something something like that - put a bulb across the terminals and make it visible in the car so she can tell me if its lighting when it happens - because I will not be there when it happens - I get calls when I'm at work

^neo^ · 29 Jun 2011

Sounds like the solenoid on the starter sticking to me. You can take them off and clean them up, maybe put a small smear of copper grease on the plunger too

chris rushton · 29 Jun 2011

years ago i had a rusting montego with the same problem and as u suspected it was the engine managment black box. i got a second hand one and it was fine.

mattylad · 30 Jun 2011

I'll try the solenoid but I hepe its not the ems, thats likely to be costly.

Thing is, it only does it when its a hot day & it gets warm - it does not do many trips out so is rare, just inconvenient.

Thank you for the suggestions.

Astra99 · 30 Jun 2011

From the description, it sounds very much like a starter problem, perhaps a loose connection on the solenoid (the big heavy cable direct from the battery and the one on to the starter itself) or burnt contacts inside the solenoid. Could even be the starter armature/brushgear. Is the vehicle automatic? If so, it could be the inhibitor switch. Might only need adjustment, or contacts could be burnt. If it's not an auto, when the starter won't work, can the engine be bump-started?

mattylad · 30 Jun 2011

Its an ordinary model, none of this lazy auto stuff lol.

'll take the starter/solenoid off & look.

It has been stood for a long time with very little use & since we started using it this has been occasionally happening.
(New battery so thats ok).

Cheers.

mattylad · 3 Jul 2011

^neo^ said:
Sounds like the solenoid on the starter sticking to me. You can take them off and clean them up, maybe put a small smear of copper grease on the plunger too

I'm trying to search for some pictures of what the solenoid looks like?

I take it that its on the side of the starter motor and I'd have to remove that to be able to do anything to it?

EDIT: I think I have found a small pic of the solenoid - it looks like a sealed unit.

Astra99 · 3 Jul 2011

True enough, the electrical part of the solenoid itself is a sealed unit, but (normally) two bolts hold it on to the starter motor. This is where the plunger connected to the dog-clutch and starter gear goes. Make sure this is able to move freely in the solenoid, and especially as the vehicle has been stood up for some time, that the connections are clean and tight.

mattylad · 30 Jul 2011

OK - where the heck is it on a K12?

Exactly?
Front/back, bottom top of the engine?

ISTR that they are normally at the bottom front but I cant find it?

Feel
--------
this high
--------

lol

Burnerman · 31 Jul 2011

Its at the back mate, nicely tucked in just below the inlet manifold.
John

mattylad · 31 Jul 2011

So access is only from underneath ?

guess thats me not able to look then - I have no way of getting it raised.

Burnerman · 31 Jul 2011

They are often desperately difficult to access - maybe because its not needed very frequently.
You'll not get in from the top I doubt - even if you take that huge plastic air box off.
John

Micra K12 - wont start when warm?

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