Hi All, Re the thread title, the battery is new. Found 2 earth straps, one from engine, one from liesure battery. Is there one from starter motor? Engine x230 1996 1.9td. New alternator fitted. Do any of you have any ideas re. problem. Any help would be gratefully recieved before I go diving under the bonnet.

OK so there are a number of places to check before you need to worry much. All power links need to be spotless shiny metal to metal contact . . All those as thick as your finger. So wire wool inside the battery clamps, abrade and clean all surfaces of the earth links from battery to chassis, chassis to engine block and then the large rings on the starter. Suggest you leave the battery disconnected for that one as you can short the starter relay or touch live to ground with your spanner. Don't trust a connection until you have dismantled it and cleaned.

Cheers Andydiver, In process of cleaning all terminals and connnections. Just got to find the starter motor and all should be well. Will follow your good advice re battery disconnect. Many Thanks, Ian. P.S. Sorry for the delay in replying. I don't log on every day.

We had a tractor where the starter connection had to be cleaned every couple of months. It was so easy to do did it as and when and never had any silicone or copper grease to hand to protect it. But rarely see that on a vehicle most often been the engine block connection. So if you don't find the starter try a start anyway.

HI Andydiver and All, Have found the starter motor but need to get the van on my ramps to get at it. I'll let you know the results once I've done it. Till then Thanks once again, Ian.

Hi All, I've been thinking more about this problem and I'm wondering if the glow plugs might be the cause of the poor starting. The van is a 1996 1.9td with 70,000 on the clock. The glow plugs look original. It looks like an easy enough job to change them. Has anyone any thoughts on this idea? All the Best, Ian.

If you have adequate compression you shouldn't need glow plugs to start until well below zero. If you've cleaned all the connections, have a fully charged good battery and its still cranking slowly then you probably need to get the starter motor overhauled.

Faulty glow plugs may make it difficult to start but would not make it turn over slowly.

To remove the earth straps from your diagnosis try using a good jump cable from the battery negative to the starter motor, attaching it to a mounting bolt would be good, then try turning it over. If still slow its either the starter or battery.


Mike

Hi All, Starter motor has ceased working. When I turn ign. key I can hear what I think is a relay click. When I stand outside the van I can hear what I think is the solenoid click and that's it. No whirry whirry starty noise. Van will bump start and run OK. Anybody any thoughts before I take it to the dreaded garage. Thanks, Ian

clifford59 said:

Hi All, Starter motor has ceased working. When I turn ign. key I can hear what I think is a relay click. When I stand outside the van I can hear what I think is the solenoid click and that's it. No whirry whirry starty noise. Van will bump start and run OK. Anybody any thoughts before I take it to the dreaded garage. Thanks, Ian

Click to expand...

Might just be stuck solenoid but just as lightly your brushes are worn out, commutator is worn and the motor is cull of brush material. Full overhaul since you have it out.

Same problem in my opinion just worse. Others here have found the braided straps can tear in a hidden way. Did you handle them much? Also if you have not done much running your battery might need a charge. But I would still suggest a poor link as your primary problem. The click is the relay closing the high current contact. There is not enough current getting through somewhere. hope you get it sorted.