Hello folks,

I'm having a spot of bother with my 2004 1.2 8v dynamic with 120k on the clock.
For the past week or so it has intermittently not been turning over at first turn of the key. You can hear a click from the relay but the starter motor wouldn't engage.

Anyway, today it wouldn't turn over at all, nothing from the starter motor. I bump started it and it ran fine after that. I had the battery and alternator tested at Halfords (where I work) and both are fine.

I began to suspect the starter motor is at fault. However, the next few times it went to start it, it worked fine. Nevertheless I soured another starter motor and set about fitting it. There starter motor I bought from the scrap does have different part codes and is a Hitachi not the original Valeo one. The shape was the same but the number of teeth were different.

I decided to give it a go anyway and when I initially turned the key it failed to turn over again (No more clicking). I proceeded to put the old one back on. Surprise surprise it still didn’t start (No clicking, no nothing apart from the relay in the fuse board).

I have a copy of the Haynes manual and tried to test the wiring. I have found that there is power going to the starter motor, so I cannot see why it wouldn’t start.

I know there is what looks to be an earth ring that comes out of the wring loom that goes onto the starter motor, but I’m not sure how to test the earth or if there is something else I’m potentially missing?

Just to recap;

Initially intermittent starting issues (No clicking from the starter motor).
Bump start and it works fine, no other issues.
Now it’s not working at all.
12 volts going into the starter motor and alternator.
Battery terminals are clean
No immobilizer issues.

How do I test the earths and what’s the likelihood of it being an earth issue?
Is there any way to definitively test the starter motor off the car?

Regards,
Adam

The earth cable from the battery negative terminal has been reported to break inside its outer casing. The connections onto the gearbox and car body can also corrode so inhibiting the flow of electricity.

First check that the terminal at the battery is clean and tight.
Follow the cable down to the gearbox and check the terminal is clean and tight. Remove it, clean it with fine abrasive paper, a smear of contact grease and refit. Vaseline will do.
While it is off, tug and flex it gently to ensure it is whole and not broken inside.
Follow it on to the connector to the body, (under left headlamp I think, so a bit awkward), do the same with this one. You may find it broken or corroded.

Worth checking the integrity of the positive cable too, but disconnect from the battery first, to avoid shorting it out on anything. Having 12v at the starter does not prove it will carry the huge current to power the starter, so check it is not broken inside.

I agree with all of the above, bad earth or damaged live feed.

Thanks guys, i will investigate further and report back

portland_bill said:

The earth cable from the battery negative terminal has been reported to break inside its outer casing. The connections onto the gearbox and car body can also corrode so inhibiting the flow of electricity.

First check that the terminal at the battery is clean and tight.
Follow the cable down to the gearbox and check the terminal is clean and tight. Remove it, clean it with fine abrasive paper, a smear of contact grease and refit. Vaseline will do.
While it is off, tug and flex it gently to ensure it is whole and not broken inside.
Follow it on to the connector to the body, (under left headlamp I think, so a bit awkward), do the same with this one. You may find it broken or corroded.

Worth checking the integrity of the positive cable too, but disconnect from the battery first, to avoid shorting it out on anything. Having 12v at the starter does not prove it will carry the huge current to power the starter, so check it is not broken inside.

Click to expand...

johnbushell said:

I agree with all of the above, bad earth or damaged live feed.

Click to expand...

Just a quick update, you were right guys! Turned out to be a damaged earth cable to the gearbox.

Thank you,
Adam.