Originally Posted by
tabetha
I assume you checked the power with a multi metre ?
I would firstly make sure the battery IS fully charged by charging it, don't rely on a reading as it takes no "power" as such to operate a metre.
The best way to test a starter is to hook it up to a supply on the output side of the solenoid first to see if the actual motor is going, as most are just jammed solenoid's, esp if they are BOSCH.
I have just done a escort diesel van, brand new heavy duty battery brand new starter, (old ones brushes were so worn they fell out of the brush box!!) all connected just a clunk, sometimes nothing, metre showed full value, no particular resistance etc.
So bolted my test lead(one I made up) to the battery direct, then touched the solenoid and bingo burst into life, seems even the solenoid needs a good kick power wise, most are just stuck so a good clout usually frees them.
Looked at connection points, was the solenoid lead where someone had repaired it badly, but used heat sink to cover the worst crimp joint I have ever seen, resoldered a new terminal on there, hasn't missed a beat since, so just the two timing belts to do now and the tappets(shims)!!
As one of me mates says, "if in doubt give it a clout", reffering to the starter.
tabetha
The starter did work once when i first tried the car so am assuming the power to it is all ok? there's no fuse or relay that i could have broke is there? I did give it a good clout on the car with a copper and hyde to see if it was sticking but that didnt help. I did only use a 12v tester on the power leads, but it was flashing up fine on the perminant live and on the ignition live as the key was turned, the connections look good.
Took the starter off and earthed the body with jump lead to earth terminal on battery then using a live feed touched both the live inputs into the starter - nothing happened at all, tried it several times with no joy? Its puzzling me how it cranked over once then nothing?