hi guys i have a petrol fiat doblo cargo 1.6 which was undriven for about 1 year i charged the battery the battery and i started the engine,everything ok. but now when the engine is hot it doesnt start also i want to mention that starter never been changed. i also checked the battery after 24 hours of not battery consuption and i got 12.3 volts and 10.5 when starter turns and 11.5 volts when the starter just only clicks (when engine is hot) so i believe that the coils of the starter are at their last days but if im right should i get 11.5 volts or lower u know due to the short circuit?or do u believe it needs a good cleening and regreasing and whats the best starter to buy if mine is for garbage magneti mareli or bosch?any thoughts from people who have the same problem or not are wellcome

ps sorry about my borat english!

this is not a coils problem
is from bearing
unmount them and clean and change de bearing and all be ok

Normally the clicking is the sound of the solenoid trying to throw the starter motor pinion into mesh with the flywheel but then not having enough power to switch on the starter motor. Before doing anything to the starter motor it is worth checking the engine earth strap to the battery as they are known to corrode and that means resistance. As mentioned in many posts here try connecting negative battery post to engine block with one jump lead, if it then starts ok the engine is not properly earthed and earth strap should be replaced. From the battery the black lead goes downwards to a bolt on the gearbox, replace. If its not that then the battery is suspect.

hello my friends it was just the solenoid at its last days (it was engaging the pinion but it didnt closing the circuit of starter motor)i tried to find a new one but i didnt find one because time was clicking for me because i have to do a big trip so i send the starter to a vehicle electrician to repair it (cost 60 euros(cost of a new one from another brand name 110 euros)).installed it to my car and everything is fine. how i find it was that i told a friend to start the car through the key and as it was just engaging only the pinion i was under the car and did a short circuit of the starter motor (the contacts are on the solenoid (they are the 2 big screws one of them inside a small plastic box)). the days are passed i also thought about the idea to start the car with a button through these contacts but i didnt like alot the idea.
today i installed it i thought about to put a relay to these contacts and the small screw of the solenoid (key wire that gives voltage to solenoid) as another solution to give voltage to the starter motor, but i thought it might start the starter motor before it engages the pinion. what do you think anybody does this solution has future on a person with the same problem i had?

ps : sorry about my borat english!

Hi Kostas,


The solenoid is a very big relay, it can cope with the 100's of amps the starter motor will draw. I doubt a regular auto relay could cope and it might even start a fire so, wouldn't recommend it.


Great to hear you know what the problem is though.

yes it seems dangerous for the flywheel and pinion for the amps i dont know i didnt check the amps of the fuse but if anybody ''try it at home'' with any car or with any other modification let us know...