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Starter motor

G

Guest

Guest
Hi all
So I finally found out what was causing the strange intermittent noise from
the engine and in a way I wish I hadn't!
The starter motor decided to pack up last night 70 miles from home. This is
the first time I have ever come across this but according to the AA man it
is not that unusual. Started the engine and the noise was there so like
before I thought put car in gear and it normally stops. This time it didn't
and got louder so pulled over and switched engine off and the engine kept
turning over and over. Took key out, engine still cranking but no lights
etc. I must have been slow but by the time I got the bonnet open the
starter is smoking away, cranking the car like crazy. Grabbed a handy
adjustable and in no time at all both batteries disconnected and one dead
car...... Not good. The AA man and I have worked out that it must be the
plunger on the solenoid welding itself closed and it seems this is not
fixable you just have to change the whole thing??? AA brought the car back
home and is now parked 1/4 mile away (can't ever get to park near my own
home, how I love living in London)so will have to either do it myself or
find a mobile fitter to stick a new one on. So any ideas/tips etc before I
start spending money again??
Regards
Simon Hughes
94 TLC 4.2 Turbo D LX (very unhappy)
 
Simon
This happened to me in November 2003 - but by the time the engine
stopped after I'd turned the ignition off almost straight away (it still
cranked for at least 3 minutes or more I would say) the electrics had
burnt out, the solenoid had died the starter motor had died, all
electrics gone and l'beast dead in the water as it were, batteries were
dead, and everything near to that could have burnt out, had done so -
the damage cost me just over two grand
At the time I didn't question the garage's costs but two grand was in
the extreme I thought, but they wouldn't give me the car back until I'd
coughed up.
Renate
>>> [Email address removed] 06/13 8:14 am >>>
Hi all
So I finally found out what was causing the strange intermittent noise
from the engine and in a way I wish I hadn't!
The starter motor decided to pack up last night 70 miles from home.
This is the first time I have ever come across this but according to the
AA man it is not that unusual. Started the engine and the noise was
there so like before I thought put car in gear and it normally stops.
This time it didn't and got louder so pulled over and switched engine
off and the engine kept turning over and over. Took key out, engine
still cranking but no lights etc. I must have been slow but by the time
I got the bonnet open the starter is smoking away, cranking the car like
crazy. Grabbed a handy adjustable and in no time at all both batteries
disconnected and one dead car...... Not good. The AA man and I have
worked out that it must be the plunger on the solenoid welding itself
closed and it seems this is not fixable you just have to change the
whole thing??? AA brought the car back home and is now parked 1/4 mile
away (can't ever get to park near my own home, how I love living in
London)so will have to either do it myself or find a mobile fitter to
stick a new one on. So any ideas/tips etc before I start spending money
again??
Regards
Simon Hughes
94 TLC 4.2 Turbo D LX (very unhappy)
 
Bad luck Simon.
If the problem is just the solenoid and the rest of the started is OK,
I would be tempted to try to get it reconditioned locally.
Failing that a replacement (exchange unit) would be ?175 from Milner -
http://www.milneroffroad.com/HDJ80.HTM
--
Regards,
Julian Voelcker
Mobile: 07971 540362
Cirencester, United Kingdom
1994 HDJ80, 2.5" OME Lift
 
Hi Renate
I am amazed it did so much damage to your car??? My starter was probably
cranking for well over 5-6 minutes and I had driven the car whilst it was
cranking so that might have taken a load of the engine but by the time I had
disconnected the two batteries it was smoking away like a bonfire covered in
grass and did it stink! I was going to pour water over it but then though,
well its toast anyway so best save the water to drink while waiting for the
AA (visions of me dying of thirst in deepest darkest Kent). AA man did
test the starter (I guess he did not believe me) and it happily cranked away
again with no signs of stopping. So I think the starter is ok but rather
cooked and it will be the solenoid that is burnt out. I will price up a
replacement (Milner Offroad ?175.00 - thanks Julian) and then see about
finding a roadside fitter. I may investigate getting the original repaired
but looking at the smoke coming off it as it was going bonkers I am not sure
it would not make sense replacing the whole thing as I have it off the car
anyway. So, if I do decide to do it myself as I can't find a fitter, the
Slee website recons taking off nearside front wheel and splashguard and
accessing the starter thru the opening? Anyone done this before?????
Thoughts and input always very gratefully received.
All the best
Simon Hughes
94' TLC 4.2 Turbo D VX (so keen it just can't stop cranking)
 
Simon
Well, it might have been 5 to 6 minutes - I do know it took a while and
I had to call out the fire brigade, seriously, it stank like nothing I
ever smelled, voluminous smoke belching out of every gap, the damage
inside was pretty severe, everything had burnt through including part of
the thick wad of electric cables which run perilously close to the
solenoid and start motor.
I guess I was lucky that I didn't have a serious fire in there!. The
funny thing was there was no warning noises, no intermittent noise that
would usually have me rushing all over the place trying to find its
source.
The thing is, at that time I really had no idea what to do about these
kinds of things so I guess the garage ripped me off, big time.
After the event I realised that garages are b******s; I couldn't
believe that anyone could do this to me - I'd never do this to anyone
else, as my conscience wouldn't let me.
Hopefully you will save yourself loads of money - good luck with it
being sorted out.
Renate
Hi Renate
I am amazed it did so much damage to your car??? My starter was
probably cranking for well over 5-6 minutes and I had driven the car
whilst it was cranking so that might have taken a load of the engine but
by the time I had disconnected the two batteries it was smoking away
like a bonfire covered in grass and did it stink! I was going to pour
water over it but then though, well its toast anyway so best save the
water to drink while waiting for the AA (visions of me dying of thirst
in deepest darkest Kent). AA man did test the starter (I guess he did
not believe me) and it happily cranked away again with no signs of
stopping. So I think the starter is ok but rather cooked and it will be
the solenoid that is burnt out. I will price up a replacement (Milner
Offroad ?175.00 - thanks Julian) and then see about finding a roadside
fitter. I may investigate getting the original repaired but looking at
the smoke coming off it as it was going bonkers I am not sure it would
not make sense replacing the whole thing as I have it off the car
anyway. So, if I do decide to do it myself as I can't find a fitter,
the Slee website recons taking off nearside front wheel and splashguard
and accessing the starter thru the opening? Anyone done this
before?????
Thoughts and input always very gratefully received.
All the best
Simon Hughes
94' TLC 4.2 Turbo D VX (so keen it just can't stop cranking)
 
"Simon Hughes" <[Email address removed]>
On the 13 Jun 2005 08:14:31 +0100. wrote :-
More text -
Hy Simon,
The symptoms you describe are exactly what happens when the starter contacts
become worn and pitted.
This happened to me recently and I simply replaced the starter contacts,
cost about six quid if I remember from a non-Toyota specific auto electrical
shop.
Nothing else, took about an hour from start to finish and I'm a crap auto
electrician. No further problems after about 1500 miles.
Mik Kenney, (Cruisermik).
T.L.C.A. Member (Last 8 Years).
82 FJ 40 'Swagman'
97 80 1HD FT. 'Abe'
==============================
 
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