Hey guys,

So I changed my starter motor today, I bought a brand new one. However when I connect the battery back up the starter motor starts to spin and whine really loud. This is without the ignition being on or the key even in the car. It’s straight away as soon I connect the battery back up. Any ideas of what this could be?

Cvllen said:

Hey guys,

So I changed my starter motor today, I bought a brand new one. However when I connect the battery back up the starter motor starts to spin and whine really loud. This is without the ignition being on or the car even in the car. It’s straight away as soon I connect the battery back up. Any ideas of what this could be?

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Yes, either you have connected the big fat red wire from the battery to the wrong terminal on the starter or you have a faulty starter.

Please post pick of wires on back of starter.

jackwhoo said:

Yes, either you have connected the big fat red wire from the battery to the wrong terminal on the starter or you have a faulty starter.

Please post pick of wires on back of starter.

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Not a problem, I have the big fat red and the black wire with a hoop connected to the top one. I can get a photo tomorrow, that car is currently back together on the road with the battery disconnected

Cvllen said:

Not a problem, I have the big fat red and the black wire with a hoop connected to the top one. I can get a photo tomorrow, that car is currently back together on the road with the battery disconnected

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I think you have connected it correctly.
The braided wire from main bit of motor connects to the nearest stud on the solenoid . The wire from battery connects to the other stud on the solenoid.
There is a switch inside the solenoid that should only electrically connect the two studs on the solenoid when it is energised by the thin wire connected to solenoid.

You have been unlucky if it is a faulty new part, where did you get new parts from?

Good luck, you are doing good work.

Jack

jackwhoo said:

I think you have connected it correctly.
The braided wire from main bit of motor connects to the nearest stud on the solenoid . The wire from battery connects to the other stud on the solenoid.
There is a switch inside the solenoid that should only electrically connect the two studs on the solenoid when it is energised by the thin wire connected to solenoid.

You have been unlucky if it is a faulty new part, where did you get new parts from?

Good luck, you are doing good work.

Jack

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not a problem, I will take the starter off tomorrow and double check the solenoid has not dried up sitting on a shelf for too long. Ill post and update tomorrow, thank you for the help!

There is that weird insulated collar on the main 'copper' post..

Missing that can upset things..

The little wire on the solenoid is the feed to energise the solenoid, throw the pinion into mesh with the flywheel, which activates teh big switch inside the solenoid to connect battery voltage through to the motor.

That little wire should only be live when the key is turned to the start position. Disconnect it and with a voltmeter or test lamp, check is is dead, or live. With it disconnected, does the starter then sit silent as it should? If not, either you've made a bad connection, or the starter is faulty.

If the little wire is live, there is a starter relay in the underbonnet fusebox that is dead, and making a connection when it shouldn't. Either just a dead relay, or due to water ingress into the fusebox.

Why did it need a new starter? If the relay is live all the time, the starter remains engaged with the engine, and when the engine spins the starter, it dies.

Cvllen said:

Not a problem, I have the big fat red and the black wire with a hoop connected to the top one. I can get a photo tomorrow, that car is currently back together on the road with the battery disconnected

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Hi,

Photos would be helpful.
Do you have jump leads?


Good luck

Just an update, thank you everyone for the help. I’ve managed to sort it and the cars works fine again. When I did the starter motor yesterday I was slightly tired and had the bonnet closed. Today I went out to have a look with the bonnet open for more light and had the wires on the wrong terminal. Thankfully the starter still works and the ecu etc had not blown. Back to the roads for my 206k miles punto

Cvllen said:

Just an update, thank you everyone for the help. I’ve managed to sort it and the cars works fine again. When I did the starter motor yesterday I was slightly tired and had the bonnet closed. Today I went out to have a look with the bonnet open for more light and had the wires on the wrong terminal. Thankfully the starter still works and the ecu etc had not blown. Back to the roads for my 206k miles punto

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Wonderful , huge well done to you.
It is very easy to make mistakes when tired and light poor , don't be hard on your self.

Thanks for coming back to update us.

This was in a different starter problem thread.

Not super relevant to you now thankfully

20-01-2019

If there is a little movement on the first attempt the gear on the motor may revolve enought to engage on second attempt.

To rule out electrical issues a voltage measurement at the small terminal of the starter is required. As the fault is intermittent I'd sugget a text lamp rather than a multimeter. Temporarlly run a wire from the small terminal of the starter into the cab and connect a small bulb (side light or interior light bulb for example. With a all class wedge end bulb the contcact is a wire folded over the glass. you can unfold this and attach a insulated wire so you don't need a holder) between there and ground. The light will come on when the starter is activated. If the light comes on when the key is turned to start the issue is starter motor, ring gear or high current wiring to starter. If the light does not come on when the key is turned it is a low current control circuit issue. This could be key switch, relay (body computer) immobiliser, fuse or wiring.