Starter Motor gone?

LaGlisse

Hi just sat into my car and turned the ignition, heard grinding noise like you would get if you turned the key with the engine already on. Car wont start, doesnt even attempt to get going. Had been driving it 5mins earlier so surely cant be the battery being flat (though the battery sign did flash earlier today, went away after i stopped car)

Friend reckons its the starter motor, what will the damage be?

tin79

A recon starter might cost 150 - 200 I have found. What type of car, year etc?

biko

Do you have breakdown assistance on your policy?
Some companies will come to your house, check with your insurer.

Troll/off-topic posts removed

LaGlisse

dont have breakdown cover
battery seems fine, lights on full blast and they dont dim when trying to start car
nothing happens at all when i turn key
rang a few places,locsal parts place said they could get me one for E120 but wont get it till thursday. Thing is it could turn out not to be the problem at all

CJhaughey

Try giving the starter a tap as you turn the key, obviously take precautions when near moving parts like belts.
Sometimes the solenoid sticks and the tapping unsticks it.
Us a heavyish object like a hammer or a length of pipe.

B00056718

CJhaughey wrote: »

Try giving the starter a tap as you turn the key, obviously take precautions when near moving parts like belts.
Sometimes the solenoid sticks and the tapping unsticks it.
Us a heavyish object like a hammer or a length of pipe.

This actually does work sometimes as temporary fix. Assuming the starter motor is reasonably easy to access.

Bpmull

Maybe worth trying to borrow a multimeter and double check the battery is giving 12 volts if it was giving 9 for example the lights may work but the motor wouldn't turn over. In saying all that it does sound like the starter motor most likely. You could try putting the car in 2nd fear and rocking it from side to side I don't know why it works but it often does in the case of sticking starter motors. It's Worth a try.

Chris_Heilong

I had this once years ago and it turned out to just be the battery.

tin79

B00056718 wrote: »

This actually does work sometimes as temporary fix. Assuming the starter motor is reasonably easy to access.

Got us through a week in Kerry in my fathers Land Rover last year. The starter motor hitting rock became a feature of the week.

LaGlisse

Bpmull wrote: »

Maybe worth trying to borrow a multimeter and double check the battery is giving 12 volts if it was giving 9 for example the lights may work but the motor wouldn't turn over. In saying all that it does sound like the starter motor most likely. You could try putting the car in 2nd fear and rocking it from side to side I don't know why it works but it often does in the case of sticking starter motors. It's Worth a try.

Was out looking under the hood and the lights went completely down. Hooked up jump leads and no improvement so thinking it must be a battery issue now

listermint

CJhaughey wrote: »

Try giving the starter a tap as you turn the key, obviously take precautions when near moving parts like belts.
Sometimes the solenoid sticks and the tapping unsticks it.
Us a heavyish object like a hammer or a length of pipe.

Length of stick / broken shovel handle with large hammer at end. Try not hit starter with hammer direct.

Renegade Mechanic

tin79 wrote: »

Got us through a week in Kerry in my fathers Land Rover last year. The starter motor hitting rock became a feature of the week.

As yes, the Land Rover Starter impact aid tool. I cant remember the catalog number but its definitely there!

OP, your starter may be beyond economical repair if you can hear grinding. Grinding usually means the solenoid is functional otherwise current wouldn't reach the motor to turn it. It can be because the bendix -the spiral grooved shaft the pinion slides out on- has failed. The sliding grooves break, catching the pinion as it slides over.
Or the one way clutch, if fitted, has failed and is now eh... two way
Ive seen myself on one the lever that the solenoid pushes the pinion out with had snapped meaning it stayed put while the motor turned away.

CJhaughey

LaGlisse wrote: »

Was out looking under the hood and the lights went completely down. Hooked up jump leads and no improvement so thinking it must be a battery issue now

Could be battery as well, if your battery has been weak for a long time, It may also have damaged the starter.

Dr.Winston O'Boogie

Is it possible for the battery to be dead enough that your engine doesn't start, yet the lights and radio come on when you turn the key? Having issues myself. BMW 318, never had problems with engine ever but now when I turn ignition there is a clicking noise and nothing, but lights etc work.

Idbatterim

sounds like starter motor on the 318ci, had exact same issue with my 325ci a few months ago, got a refurbed bosch one on ebay from ireland for E30...

Dr.Winston O'Boogie

Idbatterim wrote: »

sounds like starter motor on the 318ci, had exact same issue with my 325ci a few months ago, got a refurbed bosch one on ebay from ireland for E30...

Yeah had a feeling....wouldn't have a clue myself how to get that going again so might call out a mechanic. Any reason in particular these things fail?

Idbatterim

just wear and tear... unlikely you will have to ever replace it more than once. Take a look here...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.Xn42+starter+motor&_nkw=n42+starter+motor&_sacat=0&_from=R40

where are you based?

Dr.Winston O'Boogie

Dublin, Harolds Cross area?

Cheers for that, wouldn't be too confident fitting it myself now but might look into it!

Anan1

niallo24 wrote: »

Is it possible for the battery to be dead enough that your engine doesn't start, yet the lights and radio come on when you turn the key? Having issues myself. BMW 318, never had problems with engine ever but now when I turn ignition there is a clicking noise and nothing, but lights etc work.

That's a flat battery, nothing more. There's enough charge for the lights and the starter motor solenoid (that's the clicking) but not enough to turn the engine over.

Idbatterim

perfect, I will pm you a number of guy who did the job for me, he is in harolds cross, cheapest person by far I have ever used and perfect for the bread and butter jobs like this...

Dr.Winston O'Boogie

Anan1 wrote: »

That's a flat battery, nothing more. There's enough charge for the lights and the starter motor solenoid (that's the clicking) but not enough to turn the engine over.

Hopefully you are right, friend calling around later to charge it anyway as want to rule that out firstly!

Dr.Winston O'Boogie

Idbatterim wrote: »

perfect, I will pm you a number of guy who did the job for me, he is in harolds cross, cheapest person by far I have ever used and perfect for the bread and butter jobs like this...

Great cheers, I will keep the number in case I need it for this or any other issues!

Idbatterim

yeah obviously check its not the battery first, if it is, you have rathgar motor factors close by...

Dr.Winston O'Boogie

So the battery charge didn't work unfortunately, so looking at another problem. Will have to go to mechanic.

Anan1

niallo24 wrote: »

So the battery charge didn't work unfortunately, so looking at another problem. Will have to go to mechanic.

Is the battery healthy? It might be too knackered to take a charge. Could you try a battery you know to be good in the car before spending any money?

Dr.Winston O'Boogie

Never had problems with it before. Might try that alright, have a feeling its more serious than that though!

Anan1

niallo24 wrote: »

Never had problems with it before. Might try that alright, have a feeling its more serious than that though!

It's always best to completely rule out the simple/cheap stuff first! How did you recharge the battery? Do you know 100% that it was fully recharged?

Dr.Winston O'Boogie

Tried jump leads and one of those portable charging battery things. Neither gave it a kick at all.

Idbatterim

yeah thats what happened with me, tried the jump leads etc, nothing...

Dr.Winston O'Boogie

Been advised by a mechanic to try give it a push start, if it does and it works its the starter motor alright. Gonna try that tomorrow now.

Idbatterim

I tried that also, still couldnt start it that way. Best of luck though If you can get is started that way, my advice is to leave it with the mechanic until you have starter motor, will save you the tow charge if you dont have breakdown assist...

Dr.Winston O'Boogie

Idbatterim wrote: »

I tried that also, still couldnt start it that way. Best of luck though If you can get is started that way, my advice is to leave it with the mechanic until you have starter motor, will save you the tow charge if you dont have breakdown assist...

Just out of interest what was the problem with your car in the end?

Idbatterim

the starter motor...

vandriver

I'd recommend Almax on Cromwellsfort Road in Walkinstown.