Starter motor issues

[Dalmationman]

Sometimes I get just a click when starting. No spinning of motor.
When this happens I select park and rock the car forwards and back.
It then starts.
What's the fault ?
What's the fix ?

Thanks

[Brianmoooore]

Where's the click coming from?

[Satan]

Could be solenoid sticking or could be a dodgy earth.

[Dalmationman]

"where's the click coming from "?

One click only. From engine bay. Not able to locate on my own that accurately. Pretty quiet soft click.

[Dalmationman]

Why would rocking it improve a dodgy earth, Satan ?

[Satan]

Why would rocking it improve a dodgy earth, Satan ?

It wouldn't but it could help the stuck solenoid, back in my Ford Capri ownership days a 2lb ball pein hammer would help free the solenoid.

[ChrisHC]

It is most probably the solenoid sticking but there can be odd problems. I had starting problems with an MGB and even changed the starter twice, invoking the guarantee, it eventually turned out to be the cable to the motor, the terminal crimped on to the end of the cable was loose, sometimes enough current got through to start the car, sometimes just enough to activate the solenoid and no more, and sometimes nothing at all.

[Dalmationman]

Starter replacement time.

[Satan]

Starter replacement time.

Whack it with a hammer.

[Dalmationman]

BMW special tool. Hammer.

[Satan]

16 ounce will do......

[ChrisHC]

Starter replacement time.

Whack it with a hammer.

Technically referred to as 'percussive maintenance'

[BenHar]

Not sure why rocking it in "park" would help.

Ben

[Speedtouch]

By doing this (or rocking it in 2nd gear with a manual car), it frees off the starter motor pinion that has locked itself into the engine's flywheel teeth.

You may need to remove the starter motor and clean off the pinion - usually they stick due to clutch dust in the mechanism; a good clean with carb/brake cleaner (but NO oil-based stuff) will usually cure the problem.

[Dalmationman]

Correct

[BenHar]

Park on an auto just locks the gearbox. Not sure why rocking it would move the flywheel?

Ben

[Satan]

Try this next time,

[pianist]

If you hear clicking from engine then I would say that this is your solenoid going out and back but then if earth is bad there are not enough juice to turn it over.
Rocking automatic car in park will do zero to Unseize starter

[Dalmationman]

Rocking resulted in it starting every time following the click. Explain that one then !

[pianist]

When automatic car is in park it does not engage the gear it locks it internally with the solenoid inside the gearbox that is why it is always recommended to leave the car with park brake on first then put it in park so to remove the stress or load on the solenoid.

So there I don't know why rocking would help

[Dalmationman]

Despite all the theory indicating otherwise, it did help.
100% start rate.
Something to bear in mind maybe if anyone suffers the same symptoms and needs a temporary get you moving fix.
Starter replaced now.
Again, an easy job despite the prophets of doom saying it's the hardest job ever to reach the bolts .
Ring gear looked fine.
Problem solved.
Old Starter was sticking.
Rocking made it start.

[Dalmationman]

Despite all the theory indicating otherwise, it did help.
100% start rate.
Something to bear in mind maybe if anyone suffers the same symptoms and needs a temporary get you moving fix.
Starter replaced now.
Again, an easy job despite the prophets of doom saying it's the hardest job ever to reach the bolts .
Ring gear looked fine.
Problem solved.
Old Starter was sticking.
Rocking made it start.

[Dalmationman]

Despite all the theory indicating otherwise, it did help.
100% start rate.
Something to bear in mind maybe if anyone suffers the same symptoms and needs a temporary get you moving fix.
Starter replaced now.
Again, an easy job despite the prophets of doom saying it's the hardest job ever to reach the bolts .
Ring gear looked fine.
Problem solved.
Old Starter was sticking.
Rocking made it start.

[Dalmationman]

Oops

[Brianmoooore]

With the lever at 'P', the transmission will be locked, as said above, so rocking the car over and back will rock the whole engine and transmission on its mounts, doing the mounts, the transmission, and anything else in range, no good at all, except possibly being just enough to free off a lightly jammed starter pinion.

[Dalmationman]

At least that explains why rocking it worked.
I never claimed it was beneficial or detrimental to anything other than making it start.
Obviously only a temporary remedy to prevent being stranded with a non start e30
Lol.

[Dalmationman]

Better than leaving it stranded

[DanThe]

The pinion must have been stuck on the ring gear from the first starting attempt 'click' for any effect to be had from rocking the car on the second attempt. Normally the pinion is not engaged unless the starter is working.
At least you got it sorted though

[Dalmationman]

Without a ramp too

[DanThe]

Must be keen

[simon7257]

Have had this loads of times on all makes of vehicles, the click usually a louder click (more of a clunck) is the starter solenoid engaging (which is good) but not turning
There are 3 fixes which usually always work but sometimes only temporary
Remove and clean the power cable to the starter and the bridge wire that goes from the solenoid to the motor housing
Secondly is by taking the back off the motor housing (isolate the battery first) and you will see the brush pack, one of the brushes will be stuck away from the armature, this is due to the fact they are sprung loaded and get corroded from moisture and by either removing and cleaning with emery cloth or the usual smack with a hammer works you get all 4 brushes to make contact, as 2 are positive and 2 are negative they repel each other causing the motor to turn
The last main one is the gear setup seizing up in the motor housing
It’s really easy to strip a starter motor and well worth trying before binning your old one, I did my transit connect starter 18 months ago after the 1 click when you turn the key and it was just 1 sticking brush
If I can work out how to upload pictures I will show you all