Starting problem

Level 9 User Joined: 03 Jul 2006 Posts: 412

Got a problem with starting, I turn the key and the engine turns over once, then hesitates for just over a second, then usually just carries on and turns over like normal and the car starts. Any ideas? Bump starting is fine and it doens't quite seem electrical to me

Retroholic Joined: 23 Dec 2005 Posts: 3315

CAS

Level 9 User Joined: 03 Jul 2006 Posts: 412

the CAS affects the ignition then, huh

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

perfectly normal, all 16V's do this.

If you want it to go for a few years then new starter motor, but it'll be back after a few years.

Some are rerally bad, my old blue hatch, would go whaaa................................whaaa...............waawawawawawawawawawa and be running.

FCS Event Manager Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 3680

mine does that too depending on the state of the battery, if its just been fully charged and whacked back on the car, it will start straight away but in normal use where the battery is not always at 100% charge it will turn over, pause then fire into life, also the longer i've been running the car, i get the same thing but the pause is slightly longer lol

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

heat soaks into the starter after a long run thats why the pause is longer. the commutator shaft swells and sticks in the bushes.

Level 9 User Joined: 03 Jul 2006 Posts: 412

My car was fine for 2 months, it's only in the last week it's started doing this.

Battery is still strong at 12.39V (ignition off) so i can rule out that and the alternator. Electrics and engine are fine whilst running.

I had the HT leads and dizzy cap off but replaced them without doing anything cos they looked fine, any chance of somethign odd going on there?

I had to be bump started 2 times today, it's not one of those things i can just 'put up with' when i have to be bump started off busy roundabouts.

EDIT: True though, starts fine when cold. Won't have any of it after a long run.

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Whack a diesel starter in there. Did this on one of my 16v's turned the engine over much faster.

FCS Event Manager Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 3680

you've jinxed mine Tom!

my hatch is now sitting about half a mile away, dead battery. (well the battery is now here and on charge)

I'm gonna have to do some investigating tomorrow now, as the battery was fully charged this morning (i'd left the interior light on all night so had to get the battery off and charge it) and started fine when i took my friend home about 30 mins ago, dropped her off (1 mile journey), went to the shop, got back in the car and nothing on the starter, couple of whirrs then dead flat.
Now last time i had a fault like this was when the ALT to starter motor cable messed up, so that will be the first place to start looking tomorrow.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

well tom whack a new starter in there, also make sure the heatshields there.