General Starting problems

[AnthonyH]

My Grande Punto is failing to start, its currently an intermittent problem.

Tonight i tried to start it off the key but had no luck.

I then tried to get it to start off jump leads, but no luck.

I then put a jump lead from the battery negative to the gearbox but no luck.

So i pushed the car and bump started it, after i got home the car was starting normally again.

A couple of years ago i put in a new starter motor, replaced the battery and replaced the earth cables.

Any ideas?

 

[the green vanper]

Hello,

Diesel or petrol?

I understand the engine is cranking when you try? Is the immo light off? Is the fuel pump working?

 

[GrandePunto PL]

Ideas? Yes. YouTube -> Crank, No Start -> https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=crank+no+start.

EDIT: so it's a "no crank, no start". Different problem (but YT is full of such videos too).

 

[AnthonyH]

Hello,

Diesel or petrol?

Petrol

I understand the engine is cranking when you try? Is the immo light off? Is the fuel pump working?

Its not cranking no, I get zippo. The immo light is off. The fuel pump is primed.

Just now I did a battery test, alternator test and crank test. They all came back as normal. The battery is listed as 75% health, which is down from around 90% the last time i did an electronic repair.

So, i'm veering towards the start motor sticking. Its about 2 years old and shouldn't be doing that. But i bought the car with an iffy starter motor, so maybe there is something about this car that eats them for breakfast?

 

[There all puntos]

Had a 1991 903cc Uno like this, the starter would refuse to operate. Took it off, had a look at the engagement system and it was dry.

So I oiled the sliding part and gears, cleaned all electrical wiring and connectors, it engaged fine put it back on. Started fine.

Bought another Uno, it had a new starter motor in it, the old one was in a Asda shopping basket the back. Did the same thing and oiled the engagement gears (and took a wire brush to the solenoid and motor connections) it also worked well.

So took off the new one, and used it as a back up for both Unos (had three 903cc ones by then) built two out of the three road legal.

Bought a 1998 Punto same thing happened with that, and it also ate starter motors, but mostly as I bought reconditioned starter motors for it (and my, it won't work hussle).

 

[AnthonyH]

Had a 1991 903cc Uno like this, the starter would refuse to operate. Took it off, had a look at the engagement system and it was dry.

So I oiled the sliding part and gears, cleaned all electrical wiring and connectors, it engaged fine put it back on. Started fine.

Bought another Uno, it had a new starter motor in it, the old one was in a Asda shopping basket the back. Did the same thing and oiled the engagement gears (and took a wire brush to the solenoid and motor connections) it also worked well.

So took off the new one, and used it as a back up for both Unos (had three 903cc ones by then) built two out of the three road legal.

Bought a 1998 Punto same thing happened with that, and it also ate starter motors, but mostly as I bought reconditioned starter motors for it (and my, it won't work hussle).

I think i'm going to do this.

I'll delay buying a new one and get the current one off. Its possibly ailing like your Uno starters. It could be sticking because its dry or rusty, maybe water has been getting onto it? Is it oil or grease that goes on there after a clean?

It also occurs to me that if water has got onto the starter maybe the electrical connections have rusted, i don't have any battery terminal grease, should i use that?

 

[There all puntos]

I used engine oil, or wd40 and then a silicone based spray. But I made the mistake of not letting the starter motor the chance to dry before testing it.

Set fire to my hall carpet and the newspaper, tarpaulin that was under the motor. I was using three jump leads though.

 

[AnthonyH]

Thanks for the info. I've been meaning to get some silicone based spray.

Must have been the WD40 that set alight, i don't think oil or silicone burn, but could be wrong.