Sunday, October 08, 2006 - 08:06 am, by: Tref Abbott(Tref)
Hi My 1991 2.5 TT has been fantastic ever since I bought it about 6 years ago. However, for the past year or so, there's been a problem that has now become almost a daily inconvenience.
If I drive it-even a short trip of a couple of k's- and then park it somewhere. If I return to the car 10 minutes later, the car appears to have a flat battery (which it hasn't as I've had it checked and it's fine).
The starter motor refuses to turn over. At the same time there is a szszszszs noise that comes from iether somewhere under the rear seat or somewhere in or near the boot.
If I walk away and try starting it 10 minutes later, the car starts perfectly. So I think it's something to do with heat and also maybe a bad earth somewhere.
Can anyone advise me how to get the rear seat and seat back out so I can look underneath?
Also, has anyone any ideas where that bad earth could be?
Unfortunately money is now non-existant (bad divorce-don't go there) so it's a case of fixing it myself.
I had an auto electrician look at the car about a year ago but he couldn't find the fault unless it was actually playing up while the car was at his workshop (which, of course, it wasn't).
Anyway, i'd appreciate any ideas, help, etc that you can give.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006 - 08:41 am, by: Tref Abbott(Tref)
Hi guys. I posted a reply yesterday but I must have done something wrong coz it didn't seem to get posted.
I am now pretty well convinced that the starter motor IS the culprit. I spoke to an auto electrician on the phone yesterday to get an idea of the cost of reconditioning my starter motor. He said something like '$260' (presumably plus the dreaded GST) but also said that he would need to look at my starter motor first (to make sure it's got a fault) and that would be another $80 plus GST.
My gut feeling said that there must be a better way because I may be wrong, but it felt like this chap lokked at me with dollar signs in his eyes.
Does anyone know if new Soarer starter motors are available? Or if so, would they be impossibly expensive?
Or does anyone know a DECENT auto electrician that won't rip me off (in the Sunshine Coast/Brisbane area)?
Justin, thanks for your offer. I'll have a think about that.
How easy is it to change the starter motor?
Maybe it's my eyes but when I look in the engine bay I can't even see the thing.
Does anyone have a DECENT starter motor they want to sell?
Wednesday, October 11, 2006 - 12:18 pm, by: Leon Wright(Techman)
Sounds like a solenoid in the starter motor. If you can find it, when you get the problem beat it with something while someone trys to start it (flicking the key back and forth to start etc)
If it starts, probably a dicky solenoid, i wouldn't have thought that would be expensive to replace, but their maybe a large amount of labour to get it out... I got a V8, so i can't really help ya on that one!
Thursday, October 12, 2006 - 09:41 am, by: Matt Worrad(Mworrad213)
If you take the starter motor off there is three tests you can do. To do this turn the starter motor on its side so that it looks like a figure 8 with the big cylinder at the bottom:
1. Motor test- this is done by earthing the motor with the return lead off a 12V battery and then putting the red lead on the bottom terminal of the top small coil. The purpose of this test is to see that it spins freely.
2. Pulling test- this is done by leaving the earth in the same spot and putting the red lead on the left, sort of notch off the side of the small top coil. This test shows whether the pinion gear spins slowly whilst coming out to engage.
3. Complete test- this is done by leaving the earth in the same spot then putting the red lead on the top terminal then having another lead bridging across to the little left hand side notch thingy from the top terminal as well but do not fix the bridging lead just hold it with insulated pliers and make a firm contact. The purpose of this is to see that the complete proccess works and the pinion gear comes out and spins freely. you may also load it up with a piece of wood.
In all these test make sure starter motor is secured in a vice. These tests ONLY applies to pre-engaging starter motors. I have never had the SM out of a soarer. Does anyone know what type they are?
Thursday, October 12, 2006 - 10:02 am, by: Tref Abbott(Tref)
Jeez- Reading this makes me feel a right wazook. Methinks it might be easier to just buy a replacement and stuff it in. I will have a look at this though. The only trouble is that I live miles from the nearest bus and don't have a second car so if I get the thing out I'm stuck here until I either get it back in or get a replacement one in. I do, however, like the thought of giving the starter a good thumping coz I reckon it deserves it.
It's a bit of a catch 22 situation.
Justin, did I read right that you still have a spare starter motor? If so, do you have any idea if it's a good 'en?
Obviously what I'm worried about is going to all the trouble of gluing in a replacement only to find it's no better.
Meanwhile, has anyone else got a decent starter motor going?
Also, does anyone know how difficult it is actually getting the starter motor out?
Wednesday, October 18, 2006 - 04:45 pm, by: Tref Abbott(Tref)
Hi again
Ok I gave in and took the car to Tony's Auto Electrics in Nambour.
A few hours pacing the floor like an expectant father later and I get a call saying "Your starter is definately shot". It turned out that the brushes were stuffed, the comutator was past it's best and two of the four armature windings were blackened (and therefore as close to burnt out as possible) so the starter was only half -working.
They couldn't source a genuine Soarer replacement so they married up my original starter face plate with a new starter motor. It all cost $500 including labour which was more than I was bargaining for but at least now it starts perfectly every time.
Thanks to everyone for your suggestions and advice. (and pleeeeeeaaaaase don't tell me I woz robbed)
Rob Andreacchio Moderator Victoria Supercharged VT Calais & 1991 JZZ30
Sunday, October 22, 2006 - 05:48 pm, by: Tref Abbott(Tref)
Actually, all joking apart, a few years ago when I was living in Devon, I took my Beamer to get four new tyres. While I was waiting in their reception area, I noticed that the guy had some local brochures/business cards so I asked if I, also, could put some brochures in there. The owner asked me what the brochures were advertising and I innocently told him that I was a Hypnotherapist and that the brochures were detailing the sort of problems I could fix. He said 'Yeah, ok' and I went back to reading the 5 year old car mag while his crew finished doing the tyres. A few minutes later the owner called me over so I could pay the bill but instead of handing it over he sort of turned away and handed it to me over his shoulder. "Derr-" I'm thinking, "there's something wrong here" (I'm quick like that) so after having the bill almost thrown at me, I asked what the problem was.
It took the bloke a few seconds before he thought about it and then carefully moved several feet away from me. Only then did he say 'Well, you're a hypnotherapist aren't you?'
"Yes" sez I, "so what?"
Then he admitted that he genuinely believed that if he looked me in the eyes I would somehow be able to hypnotize him into thinking that I'd already paid the bill!
Sunday, October 22, 2006 - 06:24 pm, by: Tref Abbott(Tref)
Now I wish I had. But honestly folks you have NO IDEA just how much of a responsibility it is having THIS POWER. Thank goodness I have a gorgeous partnet because otherwise I could be tempted into using these abilities to get women to come on to me or maybe they might suddenly feel the need to undress in front of me or something like that.
But as I said, I have a loving partner so I suppose I'll stick to my professional agreement and not use hypnosis for anything underhand.
However, if I stray, does anyone want some photo's?