Hey all

My starter motor has been dying on me randomly for the last week. It is only one year old but sometimes when I get in the car to start it (particularly when already warm) it just won't start.

It doesn't seem to be sticky solenoids as it jumps in and out sometimes when it does start, feels like it is giving way/slowly dying

I have tried to establish whether or not it might be an electrical problem by taking apart the dash cover and jiggling all the wires under the wheel (i know which one the starter one is) but no luck.

I have also checked and wiggled wires on the motor itself, and that helped bring it to life once, but they all look to be connected pretty well no not sure.

Bashing the starter motor with a steel rod seems to help

Do you think it is electrical or the motor? Just not sure of what else I can check before I hassle my mechanic for a warranty replacement (hopefully it is in warranty).

Should I go to the trouble of taking off the contacts on the starter motor and sandpapering them all back?

Cheers!

Bashing the starter motor with a rod helps, as in, it makes it kick over straight away?

Last time I done this on other cars it was the solenoid that was stuffed.

You sure its not a dying battery?

Bashing the starter motor with a rod helps, as in, it makes it kick over straight away?

Last time I done this on other cars it was the solenoid that was stuffed.

You sure its not a dying battery?

Well hopefully it is the solenoids as I would hate to have to troubleshoot an electrical problem.

Sometimes it takes two bashes but generally it will kick over straight away....

It doesn't seem 'tired' when it is kicking over so i dont think it's the battery.

How do I test the battery? I have a multimeter here.....

Battery is showing a green light...... it has 12.5 volts when off and 14 volts when running

Id try it with a measured 12V+ volt source as a trigger for the solenoid to rule out any voltage drop etc from the key,could also be contacts or even sticky brushes,if it cranks slowly,it can be armature or fields (is yours permag or old fields type?),worst come to worse,get it top a auto elec to check or send it back for warranty

You can do a simple test of the battery, measure the volts after removing the surface charge (read the link)

http://www.batterystuff.com/tutorial_battery.html

12.65-12.7V is 100%

12.45-12.5V is about 75%

Load testing the battery is the only way to properly test it, bit more complicated.

In saying that, if it doesnt sound tired, its probably not the battery.

Id try it with a measured 12V+ volt source as a trigger for the solenoid to rule out any voltage drop etc from the key,could also be contacts or even sticky brushes,if it cranks slowly,it can be armature or fields (is yours permag or old fields type?),worst come to worse,get it top a auto elec to check or send it back for warranty

Cheers, it isn't 'tired' i dont think..... just seems to be jumping in and out like it is faulting somewhere

The starter was purchased new about a year ago

would it have anything to do with your remote start?

Sounds like the solonoid but these are sealed units and can not be taken apart to clean

If it is under a year old, get it replaced

would it have anything to do with your remote start?

Nup checked where I spliced in with the starter wire

Mal, yeah I am taking it back to the mechanic Monday when I get my pink slip done for rego (roadworthy)

Cheers guys!