Technical Starter motor problem

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Technical Starter motor problem

solo3583

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Another problem with our Idea. It refused to start last Thursday evening, with no response from the starter motor on turning the ignition. Called out the RAC and they said we needed a new starter motor. Took it into our local Fiat dealer who fitted another one, but when we came to pick it up it was exhibiting exactly the same problem. Don't they test cars when they have repaired them?!! They are now saying it wasn't the starter motor after all (so why did they fit one?) and we need a new body computer at a cost of £500!
We paid £200 for the starter motor fitting (I know - we should have checked the car before we paid...lesson learned) which we are attempting to recover. The dealer says he will try to get Fiat to pay for the computer on a goodwill basis as it should not have failed (it's a 54 plate car), but worst case we have a potential bill for £700.
As can imagine we have somewhat lost confidence in this dealer, so does anyone have any thoughts on whether the computer is really the source of the problem and what chances we have of Fiat paying for it?
Incidentally, I know the consensus on my earlier post about the headlights being on permanently was that it was a switch problem, but could it be that the body computer is the cause of that too?
 
Surely a positive can still be brought to the coil of the starter and the starter would turn even on these more modern cars. That would rule out the starter motor itself.
 
Update, for anyone interested. After a long delay, last week we got the car back, having managed to get Fiat UK to pay 50% of the cost of both the starter motor and the computer (though I argued strongly that we should not have to pay for the starter motor at all as they should have checked it before replacing it). But anyway we ended up with a bill for £288, which I thought was not too bad.
...until today! When the car refused to start again, with exactly the same symptoms. Took it back to the dealer with an angry face on :mad:. He said "funny that, we had an Idea in last week with an identical problem"!. Anyone know of a generic problem here? Will keep you posted on progress.
 
Solo, I am in sympathy with you as my Idea is exhibiting starter motor problems (11/06/10) I shall keep my eyes and ears open for problem solvers.
Regards
 
Thanks for your sympathy Rotterdam. We still have the car 2 years on, and it's still dodgy at starting. The dealer said he couldn't find anything wrong, but even now every few days it refuses to start. But we've found a work-round: it seems if you press the "lock" button on the key to lock the doors and set the immobiliser (whilst you're still in the car), then quickly unlock it again before the alarm goes off, the car will then start. Usually. So I think it's something to do with the computer still but I really can't be a****d to get it fixed any more. We're selling it later this year. Anyone want to buy?!
 
Hi there,

We have the very same problem with our 54 plate diesel idea we bought 2 months ago. We have had the starter motor changed but it still doesn't start occasionally and the mechanics at our local garage don't seem to know what the problem is. Next step it would be to take it to Fiat service to have a look at the ECU but apparently it didn't solve your problem. We will try the trick with the immobilizer but it would be nice to know what is the proper and final solution. Have you had your problem sorted?
 
I have the same problem with my idea, went to te store, wanted to start again, nothing happened. I replaced my starter engine, and the engine is still death. Now the computer says the glow starters are broke.
Can that be the reason why my engine won't start or is it something else?
 
Even if all four of the glow plugs were dead at the same time, that should not keep the starter motor from turning. It may very well keep the engine from starting, but it wouldn't prevent the starter motor from turning.

Another possibility is to take apart and clean the inside of the ignition switch. Also check the wires leading to it and maybe the fuses as well.

I bought a new 2005 Idea Emotion Multijet 1.9 from Marcassin in Soignies. When I bought my new Qubo I went to a different dealer because I wasn't too happy with the service. I replaced the Idea with a 2000 Punto ELX JTD 80 after the Idea was a total loss after an accident. I got about two years from the Punto before I took it off the road. It was 9 years old and had over 306 000 Km. I took it off the road because of the same problem that you're talking about. The difference was I didn't want to spend any more money on a car that was already worn out.

Where are you in the Little Land of Chocolate, Beer and Lace? I live about 10 minutes from the Walibi park.
 
Hi all.
My mjet Idea had a similar issue last night, thankfully happened at the local shop and bump starting it worked (possibly not the imobiliser?)
There was no action/ clicking at all from the starter motor and am a bit clueless at what the fault could be (starter solenoid?)
went to it this morning and it fired off without incident.

Any clues on this?
 
Spoken to Fiat who currently have a doblo in with the same issue, I say the same issue but they have yet to replicate it on the doblo, they also say they have heard of this before and put it down to the key and body computer, they say locking the car and leaving it 10 mins for the body computer to power down should cure this............just keep telling yourself that :bang:
 
Agggrrr!!!! Just happened again to me this time,
It's a good 15 mins wait before the starter comes back to life, unsure if its the starter or the body computer, Had the spare key with me too and still no joy so that is ruled out. Taking it over the garage to have a wire attached to the starter live Wednesday, next time I get the fault I can try the direct live on the battery terminal and see if it throws the starter over, If it does then its the body computer
 
Think I have located the starter relay, inside the main fuse unit under the dashboard, the fact its not on the face panel of the unit probably means its not replaceable. the wire from starter solenoid to battery has been added so that I can test strike it if/when the problem occurs
 
Have you checked the engine earth leads this runs between the body of the car and the engine/gear box this corrodes and stops the starter from Working yet everything else with the car seems fine, this is most likely your problem
 
Have you checked the engine earth leads this runs between the body of the car and the engine/gear box this corrodes and stops the starter from Working yet everything else with the car seems fine, this is most likely your problem


yeas thanks we have, the fault hasnt happened again yet so nothing to report
 
Hello :)

I had a similar issue last month, with my Punto TD. In my case, the solenoid was making the typical 'click', but the engine weren't turning. And it appeared to happen frequently when the engine was still hot. In my case, it was the solenoid high amperage contactors / plate - the heavy current wasn't passing (or passing intermitently) from the battery terminal to the starter engine terminal, even if the solenoid coil was working and producing that 'click'. I changed the solenoid and cleaned the starter engine inside.

I've tested those solenoid terminal with a voltmeter, after removing the starter from the car. But I believe it is possible to do it without removing it (with some help and precautions).
 
Hi,
I`ve been reading the thread on the Idea starter motor problem (not starting thread started on 29-09-2008 by solo3583 ) as my wifes Idea has just started having the same problem and I saw that T14086 posted a note...."PM me for solution to this problem." Do you indeed know of a solution?
In my case the car has been running fine, drove home from shops and on restarting ...turn the key, nothing! Having spent a day trying to find the problem I can rule out starter motor as on removing it and checking; it runs fine. Seems no power signal is getting from the ecu to the solenoid. Ignition switch seems OK turning it energises the various relays but nothing to the solenoid. Seems that I have two choices either change the body computer at enormous expense or rig up a wire from the solenoid to a switched power point and just start the car that way!
Tried some of the work rounds that others have had a bit of success with ie locking doors and then immediately starting the car, but no luck.
It looks like the start power signal comes directly from the ECU and not a relay as in the olden days so replacing the ECU looks like the only solution. Question is can one just swap it for a second hand one from a breakers or does it need re-programming? Any insight would be most gratefully appreciated!
 
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