General is bump starting ok?

[Dukeburger818]

hi guys the starter motor on my 1.4 8v Fiat Grande Punto has conked out unfortunately, and I dont really have have any other way of getting about considering i live in the middle of nowhere

is it okay to bump start it every now and then if i wanted to get somewhere or are there any sensitive parts that could be damaged?

classic italians

also I'm new here, hello

 

[cmosfxx]

Depends on the reason your starter died.

If the starter is not stuck engaged it's fine I guess...

You could damage the flywheel or create an electrical problem (if the starter has electrical problems). Also what if you stall it in the middle of nowhere or in traffic, uphill etc?

Just fix it man don't keep starting it this way.

 

[Bernievarian]

Bump start it in 2nd gear and you shouldn't have any problem; just wait enough for the car to reach a decent speed (downhill) before engaging the clutch ... But you should consider fixing it asap !

BRs, Bernie

If someone here helped You fix -or better, understand- your issue, hit the thanks icon @ bottom right corner, it's free and makes us feel helpy ;-)

 

[Dukeburger818]

Depends on the reason your starter died.

If the starter is not stuck engaged it's fine I guess...

You could damage the flywheel or create an electrical problem (if the starter has electrical problems). Also what if you stall it in the middle of nowhere or in traffic, uphill etc?

Just fix it man don't keep starting it this way.

i dont think it's stuck engaged, I rocked the car in 2nd gear with the ignition on and it just about managed to start it, though ive not had luck with it since

are there any cheap places that sell new units?

 

[portland_bill]

For a replacement unit, a trawl of the usual suppliers and of course Ebay will find them, but wherever, it'll be expensive.
Are you sure it is the starter motor. Check all connections, especially the main earth cable from battery to engine, these corrode inside, so look ok, but won't pass enough current.

Most car manufacturers advise not to bump start an engine with a catalyst, but if care is taken it should be ok.
If the engine has no actual starting problems, so will fire easily, hot or cold, then a bump start will work. But as said above, location and situation might be dangerous.
Engines that don't start well will pas unburnt fuel through to the catalyst before they fire. If absolutely cold, when the engine does fire, this is most likely to be taken through the exhaust. If the catalyst is warm/hot, that unburnt fuel can explode in the catalyst, destroying the internal structure, rendering it useless. If a lot of fuel is passed, some may stay even in a cold catalyst, ready to pop as it warms up. Makes the starter look cheap.

 

[multipete]

i dont think it's stuck engaged, I rocked the car in 2nd gear with the ignition on and it just about managed to start it, though ive not had luck with it since



are there any cheap places that sell new units?

Rocking the car in gear does nothing to the starter,but it does move the fly wheel. What happends when you try to start the car?does the starter make a loud noise,a click noise,or no noise at all. If when starting it makes a harsh noise,this points to starter or ring gear.

 

[Dukeburger818]

Rocking the car in gear does nothing to the starter,but it does move the fly wheel. What happends when you try to start the car?does the starter make a loud noise,a click noise,or no noise at all. If when starting it makes a harsh noise,this points to starter or ring gear.

it depends, when the engine was warm it made a really loud squealing noise when turning the ignition but when its cold it sounds like its turning over but only happens once or twice then it seems to not be able to turn any more

 

[Bernievarian]

Squealing noise is due to pinion not engaging on the flywheel, could be solved by cleaning/lubricating the relay/puller moving parts, You need to remove the starter to do that, from underneath the car (secured on candles) ...

BRs, Bernie

If someone here helped You fix -or better, understand- your issue, hit the thanks icon @ bottom right corner, it's free and makes us feel helpy ;-)

 

[portland_bill]

Symptoms are of insufficient current.
Battery weak or current not getting through.
Check battery condition, and condition of the main cables, positive from battery to starter and earth (negative) from battery to gearbox and vehicle body.
The cable connections can corrode, so remove, clean and refit. The cables can also corrode internally, so check carefully. If possible by-pass with jump leads to test.
Small current from starter switch earths through motor, so can turn motor without the pinion engaging with flywheel.

 

[barryfiatman]

You do put a strain on engine mountings and exhaust pipes by bump starting.
If the brushes are worn down, I found a temporary fix was to smack the case of the starter with a medium hammer, it sometimes makes the brush springs give a bit more. You will be back with the same trouble soon tho, why not source a used one if you dont want to spend much?

 

[barryfiatman]

theres a starter on ebay now for £22 inc post