OK. Here goes. Tried 3 starter motors over the weekend. The one that was on the car when i got it, approx 1 year old. The 1 off my low mileage S1 Turbo and the original starter from my now defunct XR3i. I also changed the standard Ford type 085 battery for a less than 1 year old Halfords Type 093 battery which is obviously larger and has a cold cranking power of 500 amps ! Let car get hot, until fan kicked in, cos i wanted to make sure than fan worked too and still had the same problem. It will turnover & start sometimes but not guaranteed all the time !!!! Interestingly, when i linked both batteries type 085 and type 093 with jump leads it seemed to start everytime when hot. Got fed up after about 10 or 15 tries !!!!!! Still really none the wiser and not convinced the problem has been resolved. Expect an auto electrician would advise putting a high spec decent battery (ie Varta) and better starter motor(ie diesel) on the car to ensure starting from hot.
Also, pulled one of my plug leads off to check plugs and the lead came out the cap and the copper wire is very green/nearly broken which can't be doing any good either. Can the lead be shortened marginally and the end be re-connected or should i buy a completely new lead and start fresh ????

 

How can you refresh the leads? Can you attach new leads to the coils?

 

If you speak to Mr Quickie he can possibly source you an after market set of leads (not usually available without coils!!).

Also, talking about Starter Motors, mine was munching thru them and I couldn't understand why, so as a last ditch effort I put a brand new one on there (began with V but cant remember the name) not had a single problem since so never again will I put a re-con unit on there.

Still think it might be worth getting the auto elec to check the alternator plug, if he knows his stuff he'll know that this is a common problem when hot but it's a very intermitent fault so may not be able to perform on demand.

 

Lee and Matt you have mail

 

Have you had the wiring from alternator to starter motor checked these are problematic expecially now after all you've done and have the alternator output checked.

 

Listen to Pete hes the expert on this area lol

 

Wiring from alternator to Starter has been completely replaced. The auto electrician i use makes these lead sets up himself. It is better quality too than the original Ford ones. Car is having starting and charging system checked on Friday and i am sure he will resolve the problem. I'll keep you posted.

Lee

 

Good luck

 

Let me know cos mine needs 1 also

 

As most of you experts had said, it was the starter motor !! Although i had tried 3 starter motors and the problem was the same it has now been resolved by fitting a brand new Prestolite starter motor. This puts out 1.7Kw instead of the 0.9Kw the other motors put out and the car starts every time without fail. Just for the record, other starter motors were not faulty, just not man enough for the job. Bit like me sometimes !!!!!!!!

PS. Quickie, I will be in touch shortly re a spare set of leads. Also, does anyone know where you can get the brass clamps that go on the end of the leads though ?????

Thanks Folks.

Lee

 

job well do - more usefull tips and hints,passed between RSI owners

 

So does anyone know the reason why the RSi seems to eat starter motors?
We all seem to have had this problem somewhere along the line and most of us found the only cure was to fit a brand new one rather than a re-con. Just be interested to know what the difference is between the RSi engine and lets say for instance the XR3i engine when it comes to the starter?

 

By using the heat shield thats fitted on the RST it covers the starter motor and protects it from the heat

 

heat shield - on starter motor - on rst's

dunno where mine is then !!! - and it gets a bit hot,next to the exhaust !!!! - the alternator has a heat shield.

 

Go to your dealership and buy one then Paul

 

It's that chrome bit down there - bufty - but you probally call it something different like "doris"

 

Its painted silver but you cant polish it

 

thanks guy's -

more money now

 

About 27 quid i think