Weird start up probs on my 2.5....

Post Mon Jul 18, 2005 2:19 pm

Hello all,

Been having some issues on start up the last few days....

When I start it first thing, occasionally when you turn the key you get nothing, maybe a click and no attempt by the starter to turn the engine. So then I try again and the started will turn it over once, very slowly...then again a few seconds later and still nothing. Then I try again and it's turning over slowley and picks up pace till she fires and we're away. Once it's running it's fine, but.... everytime I have this prob it resets my OBC and my stereo loses all of it's presets.
Now I have a big battery and it's only about 2 yrs old, the alternator is quite noisy and can be heard above the engine....
The main issue is that it startes fine 5 out of 10 times and then has this fits every now and again.....I've checked my earth wire from the engine and that's ok...the lights on the dash are'nt dim...so I'm stumped.

Any ideas?

Thanks, Mark.

Post Mon Jul 18, 2005 2:50 pm

how about replacing the brushes in the altonator?

or how about replacing the whole altonator?
it does sound like there's not enough power to get the car started, and with you saying it resets your o.b.c and your radio i asume its the battery not getting enough charge

Post Mon Jul 18, 2005 2:55 pm

i also would say the altonator is the prob but could also b a lazy starter killin the batt. if u need either if these drop us a pm i got both mate

Post Mon Jul 18, 2005 3:42 pm

I was thinking that too, had a similar prob on my old M10 318, but that has dim lights and dim dash lights when running as it was barley putting out 12v.

I've already paid for a alternator of Scott so have one on it's way, hopefully that will be the prob, fingers crossed

Thanks for the info guys, glad to know we're all thinking along the same lines!!

Thanks, Mark.

Post Mon Jul 18, 2005 4:42 pm

main battery leads and or their connectors.bad connection or high resistance -clean main earth points to chassis.

Post Mon Jul 18, 2005 4:44 pm

fozzymonster wrote:I've checked my earth wire from the engine and that's ok...the lights on the dash are'nt dim...so I'm stumped.

Any ideas?

Thanks, Mark.

Earth wire is a funny thing, it is worth running another wire aswell, just in case, I have one at home that'll do to test... I also have couple spare starting motors, if you want one... dont want anything for it!

Post Mon Jul 18, 2005 4:58 pm

starters or alternators wouldnt give ye stereo or obc an outage(cut)main bat leads or supply lead to obc stereo ignition switch etc.cars eh their a pain in the rectim sometimes

Post Mon Jul 18, 2005 5:03 pm

Be careful, because my bad engine earth nearly caught fire to my oil level sensor part of my wiring loom (for some reason

)

and that was giving the same symptoms as you have described....

Post Mon Jul 18, 2005 11:29 pm

Wilson wrote:Be careful, because my bad engine earth nearly caught fire to my oil level sensor part of my wiring loom (for some reason )

and that was giving the same symptoms as you have described....

That might make sense mark as you've has the sump off haven't you? Its the earth strap right next to the oil level sensor that wilson is talking about, might be worth checking it, either 10mm or 13mm spanner iirc.

Not sure how it would have worked its way loose though.

Post Mon Jul 18, 2005 11:46 pm

I recently bought a tourer written off by it's insurance co. because of an "engine compartment fire".
That turned out to be the sump to body earth strap, which had cooked the oil level sender earth wire in the engine loom.
Even when I had identified exactly where the poor connection was (at the sump end), it still took me two goes,(and nearly wrote off my replacement engine loom), to get it to make contact properly.
The bolt wasn't loose in the first place either.

Post Tue Jul 19, 2005 8:38 am

Thats a few "engine earth" thoughts now so I'll give it a look over tonight.

I take it the best thing would be to remove, clean up, ensure good contact and reseal. Fingers crossed

Will advise what happens...

Mark.

Post Tue Jul 19, 2005 8:50 am

fozzymonster wrote:Thats a few "engine earth" thoughts now so I'll give it a look over tonight.

I take it the best thing would be to remove, clean up, ensure good contact and reseal. Fingers crossed

Will advise what happens...

Mark.

And pull the oil level sender plug out untill you're sure the connection is good.

Post Tue Jul 19, 2005 8:54 am

Brianmoooore wrote:
fozzymonster wrote:Thats a few "engine earth" thoughts now so I'll give it a look over tonight.

I take it the best thing would be to remove, clean up, ensure good contact and reseal. Fingers crossed

Will advise what happens...

Mark.
And pull the oil level sender plug out untill you're sure the connection is good.

I will

(I'm starting to feel a little ill now at work....I may have to go home sick to my garage....sorry Bed

)

Post Tue Jul 19, 2005 9:40 am

I ran an additional earth from the starter motor mount...

Post Tue Jul 19, 2005 10:34 pm

How'd ya get on?

Post Wed Jul 20, 2005 8:33 am

I checked the earth strap on sump to the chassis, all solid there. No movement and no corrosion.

I'll get the alternator off and replaced tomorrow, see if that sorts it.

Post Wed Jul 20, 2005 10:59 am

fozzymonster wrote:I checked the earth strap on sump to the chassis, all solid there. No movement and no corrosion.

Mine had no movement and wasn't corroded... think i've got an alternator in the garage... (pretty sure of it!)

Post Wed Jul 20, 2005 12:34 pm

Wilson wrote:
fozzymonster wrote:I checked the earth strap on sump to the chassis, all solid there. No movement and no corrosion.
Mine had no movement and wasn't corroded... think i've got an alternator in the garage... (pretty sure of it!)

DOH!! should have asked first then....I've got one of Scott, being collected today, should be here tomorrow.

Not expensive, but I just hope it fixs the issue, damn thing died in town last night, just as a lovely lady asked me for a jumpstart, most embarrasing

Post Wed Jul 20, 2005 4:04 pm

fozzymonster wrote:Not expensive, but I just hope it fixs the issue, damn thing died in town last night, just as a lovely lady asked me for a jumpstart, most embarrasing

nOT

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Post Wed Jul 20, 2005 9:19 pm

fozzymonster wrote:I checked the earth strap on sump to the chassis, all solid there. No movement and no corrosion.

The strap on the "engine fire" write off I bought was tight, and had no obvious corrossion, even when I'd undone it. Still took me two goes to cure it though, even when I'd proved EXACTLY where the problem was.
P.S. My vote's on the starter motor itself, but it sounds like you need a fresh altenator anyway.

Post Wed Jul 20, 2005 11:51 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:My vote's on the starter motor itself, but it sounds like you need a fresh altenator anyway.

Mark... if it turns out as starter like Brian says, don't forget I've got at least two starters in my garage, before you go and buy one!!!

Post Thu Jul 21, 2005 8:33 am

Wilson wrote:
Brianmoooore wrote:My vote's on the starter motor itself, but it sounds like you need a fresh altenator anyway.
Mark... if it turns out as starter like Brian says, don't forget I've got at least two starters in my garage, before you go and buy one!!!

I will

Expecting alternator today, will change tonight, will let you know about starter motor too.

Brian,

I'll take of the strap and clean up both connections and see if that helps.
Will advise what happens.

Thanks,

Mark.