94 1.1 Fiesta starter motor issues.

Hi all,

Sonny Jim went to go to work this morning and the Fiesta (they just went to Scotland and back in) wouldn't start. I got him to jump it with another good battery and it made no difference. Good dash lights / headlights suggested it wasn't the battery.

When you turned the key you heard a slight click but no starter action.

He took daughters Corsa to work and I just had a look at the Fiesta. Switched 12V going to the starter motor at a connector near the battery. I jumpered 12V straight off the battery to the starter input and I heard it start to spin up slowly. I repeated this a few times and then it caught and was turning the engine over.

I reconnected the std feed and it started first time.

Now, the starter motor looks pretty easy to get at so if it's as easy to get off I was wondering if there was anything that is worth cleaning, checking or lubricating, or changing the brushes etc ... or is it time for a service exchange?

Cheers, T i m

Reply to
T i m
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You could lubricate the bushes and change the brushes, but is it worth it? It would still be an old starter. The solenoid contacts for instance are probably very nearly shot, and you'd only be postponing the inevitable. If the plan is to keep the car for more than a few weeks I'd change it.

Steve

Reply to
shazzbat

If it's a pre-engage type (usually has what looks like a second but smaller 'motor' mounted beside the main one) that works by a solenoid pulling the pinion into mesh before the actual motor switches on. If that is sticking, you'd have your symptoms. Cleaning the solenoid may just extend its life - although they can corrode and jam. But costs nothing to check.

That solenoid takes quite a bit of current so is usually fed via a relay switched by the starter switch. If any of that has a poor connection, the solenoid may not get enough 'volts' to operate it fully. And the starter won't turn.

The click you heard is likely that relay.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

Like he said.

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Reply to
Duncan Wood

Is that what they called 'pre engaged' when they first came out?

Ok.

That was the only thought. *If* it was easy to get at / off and *if* there was something like that that with a little TLC would same him some cash, *and* give him a bit more old fashioned mechanic (rather than 'fitter') experience then it might not be a bad thing. As long as there were no real 'gotchas' (bolts likely to be seized / shear off etc) then it's just a bit of his time.

Understood.

I'll also get him to check the quality of the electrical connection in general.

Yes, it sounded more like a relay than what I'm used to hearing re a starter solenoid (more of a 'click' than a 'clack'). ;-)

However, noting Duncans eBay link it might be as well to get a new one (once we have checked the other stuff etc) and he can always clean / hold this one as a spare if it turns out to be otherwise ok.

FWIW the car has been started and run about 6 times since this morning and it has been fine since. We will see what it's like first thing tomorrow. ;-)

Cheers (to all), T i m

Reply to
T i m

The pic shows it to be a pre-engage type (note the solenoid mounted on the side) and is incredible value if really is re-manufactured, rather than just a cleaned up used one. But it's cheap even if only that, and it works.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

Likely brand new looking at it. 90s Escorts[1] and Fiestas are likely to be scrapped at the drop of a hat these days so there isn't the requirement for parts - eBay's full of odds and ends from bygone days.

[1] D'you know I can't think of the last time I saw a 90s Escort on the road?
Reply to
Scott M

Thanks guys.

Assuming we are sure it is the exact right thing for his beasty (the

1.1 OHV with single point fuel injection) I might get it for him anyway (as you suggest).

Thus Fiesta was given to him by a mate a while back (well, he gave him £100 as a 'thankyou'). It had 4 fairly new tyres, a long MOT, a 35K mile engine and apart from being a bit tatty looking, seems to go ok (and just took them up to Scotland and back, that would have been the cost of the car alone, had they gone on the train).

We put a couple of new wishbones on it (they were easy and cheap) and apart from the tickover issue and this starter, it's been ok and still disposable. ;-)

Cheers, T i m.

Reply to
T i m

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