Hi All
Previously posted about glow plug fail warning on my 08 1.3 multijet and since changed all the plugs. Starting improved but occasionally might take a few cranks to start..in fact on occasion its refused to start and sounded like the battery dies fairly quick! I do a couple of preheats and starts fine!
Bit if history...the car was completely dead on a trip out and managed to start it on as hill start..same day the clutch fluid hose split! while doing a hill start!
The mechanic told me the earth strap connector needed changing they crimped a new end ( clutch hose replaced)
Wondering could this be a bad starter motor or a combination of earth strap and bad starter.
Any ideas

bigwiggybossa said:

The mechanic told me the earth strap connector needed changing they crimped a new end ( clutch hose replaced)
Wondering could this be a bad starter motor or a combination of earth strap and bad starter.
Any ideas

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A bad earth strip is often the reason for the starter not working properly, a bad plus cable from battery to starter or a combination of both can cause multiple malfunctions as well.

Thanks e42b
Is it a case of replacing both..how does one test the strap and the +cable

bigwiggybossa said:

Thanks e42b
Is it a case of replacing both..how does one test the strap and the +cable

Click to expand...

Run a 2nd cable.. ( jump lead..as a test: household cable if you want to try longer term)
if starting improved.. replace the factory cable

Something in general:

As i have experience with some car brands (My Doblo is my 42nd car/van.) i can say that Fiat cables in general are quite small in dimension compared to other brands, especially to German ones like VW, Mercedes or Opel/Vauxhall. Even my Korean made Daelim motorbike provides bigger wiring.
After i recognized random malfunctions which i couldn't find reasons for i cleaned all plug contacts which i could reach quite easily. Doing that i found two cables which were almost broken. I reinforced them by soldering some wire material over the breaking point since i couldn't exchange the concerning wires completely.
That helped a lot, anyway.

My Doblo is from Turkish production, and i can say that it is mechanically better produced than many other brands i know (including VW, Mercedes or Opel/Vauxhall).
There is no rust anywhere f.i., and all hinges are working perfectly after 12 years of hard life. Even the tiny front axle construction (which comes from the Fiat Palio) can be managed by an experienced mechanic to adjust (since the factory standard causes tyre destroying).

On the whole i consider the wiring to be the only major design indulgence.

There's a lot more crappy stuff on the roads than our Doblos, i think.

Thanks guys! Let you know what happens

Update: Eventually got to the mechanic today! and not a moment to soon! while testing the starting the starter motor failed completely! and was sent straight to the automotive electrical people down the road (courtesy of a rolling start!)..they found 2 of the brushes had failed and replaced them on the spot! They had already checked the earth strap before
, so all good now ?

Failed brushes.. ?
just worn out in all probability

varesecrazy said:

Failed brushes.. ?
just worn out in all probability

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Yes I guess so ..they showed me them and 2 were completely flat.. didn't expect them to replace them ..thought they would suggest a complete replacement..

Brushes were probably less than a fiver.. so well worth the effort

Glad to hear its all sorted