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Starter motor Q

The starter on my Fiat has started turning the engine over slowly at times. Sometimes it refuses to turn at all until I have turned the ignition key a couple of times.

It's not the battery, I fitted a new battery recently and it's got a good charge. The voltage dips down low as though the starter is absorbing power, but not turning.

Is it likely to be the brushes? My only past experience with this was when a starter on a Granada would either work, or not, and when it wouldn't, a bash with a hammer would cure it.

Reply to
Mark W
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Bad earth to the engine.

Reply to
Conor

If it's taking considerable power but not turning, I'd guess at a shorted turn or turns in the armature. But a poor connection to the battery, earth, or anywhere in the circuit could give the same results. If you've got a half decent DVM, measure the voltage drop from the battery terminal to starter terminal, and also from battery earth terminal to starter body. You do this by using a low voltage range, say 2 volts, and connect the DVM to battery earth and starter body - this will show the voltage drop in that circuit. It should be less than 1 volt. Do the same from battery positive to starter terminal.

That's usually the solenoid sticking, but this wouldn't draw so much current as a shorted turn.

Reply to
Dave Plowman

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