Replaced the starter motor for a recon one last month as when the car used to get hot in traffic or the fan cut in a couple of times, if you stopped the engine waited 10mins or so, when you try to start it the bugger would just make a clicking noise and not start so i replaced the starter motor. I haven't driven the car since fitting the new starter motor only moved it into the garage after I fitted it ( it started then!!) which was about 4 weeks ago, went to start it today and it was just clicking again fuel pump sounded like not enough power when turning igination on so have left the battery on charge most of the day. Just tried it again 10 mins ago, guess what..... WON'T START just clicking again. Any ideas, could it be a bad earth somewhere????

 

Clean the power cable from battery to starter at both ends and also the earth lead from battery to bell housing. If these are clean and tight, make sure the battery is fully charged and that the voltage stays above 9.5 volts when trying to crank it over.

 

What does it mean if the voltage is less than 9.5 volts?? would my battery be knackered?? or something else??

 

Starter drawing too much current or wrong size battery for the car or battery fucked.....

 

Fooked battery or wrong size battery won't make the starter just click unless the battery was proper fooked with hardly any power in in and in which case, you wouldn't have bright ignition lights on the dash...

 

I did notice that the igination lights did seem to look ok, i've got it on charge at the moment and going to leave it on overnight so fingures crossed that it's ok in the morning. If not I'll be pushing the bastard to combe on the 23rd I've got a couple of weeks to get it sorted, just hope it doesn't take me a couple of weeks to sort it, as haven't driven it for ages

 

Try cleaning the cable terminals up and making sure they are tight then if you have an available second pair of hands, get someone to try and start it and hold the key in the cranking position. While they do this, hit the starter with a hammer(obviously make sure it's out of gear, not too much of an issue if it's jacked up).

If it cranks over after a good smack with a hammer or other suitably weighted instrument, then the starter is sticking.

My advice is to get a new spanking Ford one. I did recently and it cost me about Ł65 exchange (they need your old unit back) but I get a large discount so add about 25-30% (price becomes around Ł82-85). It's a new design starter which is smaller so it is not as close to the exhaust. I have not had any more issues with starters since although admittedly it is only 4k miles old....

 

I sorted the extra pair of hands so I will try that this afternoon. Else i'll be going up halfords for an exchange.

 

Also has your car got the turbo heat shield. Dont forget the started sits next to a turbo that GETS FOOKING hot.
I bought a new starter and wrapped it in Heat wrap. Not had an issue since.

 

Halfrauds is a con for starter motors, alternators, etc etc. Id try somewhere else mate.

 

Exchanged the old starter motor for another one today, fitted it ....ahhhh still just clicking!!!! replaced all the earth cables with new ones as the all looked crap!! still won't start!!! We tried bumping it down the road and it started on the button but stop the engine and then try to start it again.... would it start....click click click would it fook. So we bumped it again and went for a drive, gave it a it a few blasts, then it wouldn't idle, I could not believe it so we bumped it again got it back home opened the bonnet and noticed the oil filler cap had gone, it was only a matter of time before it fell off as it was loose as hell, so got a new one at good old halfords (the last one). Bumped it again and it is back to normal....all bar it won't fecking start!!! There appears to be no current getting to the starter when you turn the key?? Do you know were that wire goes to?? Is it to a relay or fuse or something as now it ain't even clicking only if you run a jump lead to the switch terminal on the motor?? and then it just clicking??? HELP!!

 

I would say either the battery is not holding fook all charge so get a new one, or
there is a little blue wire that grounds the ignition i think, give it a clean, had a
similar prob on the cossie a while back...

Failing that scrap the fooker and buy a cossie !!

Al....

 

Especially the staff at Halfords, don't know their ass from their elbows do they Paul?

 

IIRC it comes straight from the ignition switch....

 

It appears to be a problem with the immobiliser!! no siginal is coming out of it to the starter feed. One of the circuits must of f*#ed up as disconected that part seems to work fine???? Got the chap how fitted it to have a gander today, got to ring him in the morning to find out the outcome.