It's happened again! Got stranded in the Asda carpark, had to walk home. Went back a couple or three hours later with daughter ready to bring shopping home. Got in the car - and the bloody thing started first time! Drove home and parked up. Went out to go shopping again this morning - and nowt!
All the dash lights work (and are really bright). But there is NOTHING but a hum when I turn the key. Opened the bonnet, scratched my head, wiggled every ignition-connected lead I could think of - still nothing. Charged the battery for 6 hours and tried again. Same result.
I'm starting to think it's the starter motor, which is a bit of a problem since the car's outside the house. I'm sure my friendly local garage will come and tow me away to their place, but it would be nice to have some ideas about what could be causing this before I commit to a potentially unnecessary (and expensive) replacement starter motor.
Also, checking on eBay, all the dealers seem to want to call a 2004 8V 1.2 Punto a 'Natural'. What's this all about - and is it a compatibility issue?

Follow the big earth strap from the battery negative to the top of the gearbox. Open it off and clean the lug and refit.

Thanks for that. I'll try it in the morning.

you can connect a jump lead to negative batt terminal and somewhere metal on engine for a quick earth test.

Any work done before?
Ive had damaged wire causr intermitant starting on the main feed to starter and alternator
Dont rule that out

Starter ainy a bad job on 8v
Just remeember to disconnect battery first


Ziggu

No, Ziggy. Problem cleared up of its own accord. Have to say that all the wiring looks a bit old and 'kinky', if you know what I mean? I'll check this out, though, and thanks.

Try crankshaft sensor, when they play up u get ignition but doesnt turn over or start, once they go they can be a pain in the arse

Storeybook said:

Try crankshaft sensor, when they play up u get ignition but doesnt turn over or start, once they go they can be a pain in the arse

Click to expand...

The starter motor will work fine without the crank sensor

Storeybook said:

Try crankshaft sensor, when they play up u get ignition but doesnt turn over or start, once they go they can be a pain in the arse

Click to expand...

judderbar said:

The starter motor will work fine without the crank sensor

Click to expand...

i agree with Judderbar here

The Crank sensor and cam sensors can both be disconnected / smashed / missing
And the car will continue to crank till the starter overheats or the battery goes flat....

The Starter has 3 connections
1 - Main Power feed via solenoid
2 - Switch feed to activate solenoid
3 - Mate'ing surface of the starter to the gearbox and bolts (Earth return)

If all 3 of these check out all okay
Then its starter probably dying

Ziggy

Never said the starter wouldnt work, but the crank sensor can and does interfere witht getting a car started, still maybe a starter motor, but still cheaper to change a sensor than a starter if looking on saving money

Storeybook said:

Try crankshaft sensor, when they play up u get ignition but doesnt turn over or start, once they go they can be a pain in the arse

Click to expand...

Said it here!

Thanks everybody for your help/advice. I've checked out everything else as per - I even plucked up the nerve (and the necessary contortion) to give the starter motor a good whack. That resulted in a half-hearted attempt by the starter to turn over the engine, but then reverted to its previous refusal to respond.

I've got the car booked in to the garage for Tuesday (earliest they can do considering it's Easter) and I've ordered a starter from eBay for delivery by Tuesday.

Now I come back to one of my original questions. Dealers are referring to 1.2 Box, Hatch and Natural Power as 'variants'. What are these and where does my 2004 1.2 Active 8V fit in?

Part Number I've ordered (at least I think it's the part number) is LRS00989.

Phew! Close call.Had a niggling doubt about the part I'd ordered, so called the supplier. Spoke to a very helpful guy who took all my details and promised to call me back 'in 5 mins' - and did!!
I'd ordered the wrong part (despite the fact that my car appeared in the 'compatibility list'), but not to worry, he'd cancelled the order and gave me the proper part reference for re-ordering.
So the part I need is LRS01586.
I'm very happy to recommend Premier Factors as a good supplier on eBay.

In case anything gets worse between now and Tuesday. Many times starter motors respond well to removal and lubrication of the mechanical parts of the business end. Over time they can get sticky and the electrical end of things can't manage to shift them.

Appreciate what you're saying, but if I have to go to the trouble of taking the starter out, I may as well change it for a known good one. In any event, it necessitates using the garage because I just don't have the means of doing it at home.

Yippee! All fixed now. Eventually got the car started to take it to the garage by squirting liberal doses of penetrating fluid on and around the starter motor and giving it a fairly solid couple of whacks.

Thanks, everyone, for your comments and interest!