T6 Not starting - advice needed from starter/ignition folk.
- Thread starter mommabear
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- starter motor
good rest voltages.
test everything else to see what's not working . .
windows?
radio?
blowers?
headlights?
van lock/unlock from remote?
etc.
is it JUST the starter motor that's not working?
Ok - been doing some messing about - roped the local farmer in two help, he was not impressed but he's really friendly.
This is what we found.
1) Fuses are all absolutely fine - both in the engine bay and inside.
2) Its only the ignition not working - all other bots and bobs are fine.
3) Remember that yesterday it tried to crank but went flat.
2) Had a wiggle around with the cables on the starter - farmer said (best Worcestershire accent here) "that wire feels loose"...I said "which wire" he said "the one on the solenoid.......I think its the solenoid.........do these things have solenoids?"
So he gave it a wiggle and we tried the ignition....
"CLICK" but no crank...HOWEVER least it clicked - usually get nothing.
and so continued the confusing wiggling and cranking and still nothing.
Farmer thinks I could have a crap connection on the starter which might account for the van being a bit sluggish on the key normally despite always previously starting.
So were back to dot again.
This is what we found.
1) Fuses are all absolutely fine - both in the engine bay and inside.
2) Its only the ignition not working - all other bots and bobs are fine.
3) Remember that yesterday it tried to crank but went flat.
2) Had a wiggle around with the cables on the starter - farmer said (best Worcestershire accent here) "that wire feels loose"...I said "which wire" he said "the one on the solenoid.......I think its the solenoid.........do these things have solenoids?"
So he gave it a wiggle and we tried the ignition....
"CLICK" but no crank...HOWEVER least it clicked - usually get nothing.
and so continued the confusing wiggling and cranking and still nothing.
Farmer thinks I could have a crap connection on the starter which might account for the van being a bit sluggish on the key normally despite always previously starting.
So were back to dot again.
Earth strap between the chassis and engine at the cam belt end?
If you take a single jump lead and run it from the battery positive to the positive terminal of the starter motor you can test that path.
Then do the same with a negative from the battery to the casing of the starter motor, then to the engine then to the other end of the death strap at the cam end you can narrow it down to a single connection.
If you end up with the negative on the starter casing and the positive on the starter terminal, then it's the disk in the starter soleniod.
If you take a single jump lead and run it from the battery positive to the positive terminal of the starter motor you can test that path.
Then do the same with a negative from the battery to the casing of the starter motor, then to the engine then to the other end of the death strap at the cam end you can narrow it down to a single connection.
If you end up with the negative on the starter casing and the positive on the starter terminal, then it's the disk in the starter soleniod.
the braided type one?
the large braided one one is the main Engine block earth . .
check that is good and not corroded.
can you check the voltage on the main cable on the starter . . . should be perm battery voltage. ?
check that is good and not corroded.
can you check the voltage on the main cable on the starter . . . should be perm battery voltage. ?
this small braided section is the solenoid output to the starter motor itself . .
main battery post is here:
other end of the cable should end up here:
Ha ha no not in this van - its one I've been working on up at the barn - been indoors mostly for about 4 months.
I think that braided bit on mine is knacked....its not protected bu the sheath anymore and is dusty as hell when I poke it
hey would this cause issues with the starter you reckon?i told you @Loz likes that earth / ground connection . . .
I can try... what's the process?
I think chaps - this could be a problem with the solenoid/starter/connections? - having narrowed it down
Putting the pieces together.
1) Slow off the key anyway historically.
2) Battery went flat - really naff cranking anyway.
3) Absolutely nothing off the key - instruments fine, fuses fine.
4) Had a click when we joggled the cables around.
Saw a video of a guy taking the starter motor out - did most of it from above....looks like a nightmare -expansion tank etc in the way.
Can this be done underneath?
Putting the pieces together.
1) Slow off the key anyway historically.
2) Battery went flat - really naff cranking anyway.
3) Absolutely nothing off the key - instruments fine, fuses fine.
4) Had a click when we joggled the cables around.
Saw a video of a guy taking the starter motor out - did most of it from above....looks like a nightmare -expansion tank etc in the way.
Can this be done underneath?
Ok people - we have a fix.
So what did I do?
1) Checked engine fuses
2) Checked internal fuses
3) Checked starter / solenoid connections
4) Checked the Earth terminal from engine to chassis down left hand side..... I gather this we can call henceforth... the "Loz Earth"
5) Checked the Fuses under the battery tray
6) Got electrocuted
7) Checked the Battery at idol (charged 100% - 12.96 volts)
8) Checked for Voltage loss on battery terminal to connected lead (less than 0.5v loss)
9) Got electrocuted again
10) Checked all the battery cable connections as far as I could...
everything looked great.
11) Had a cup of tea.
12) Looked at the 1275 GT A+ mini engine I've got sat in my workshop.......stared at it for a minute whilst sipping tea.
13) Picked up hammer
14) Went under Van - tapped starter/ solenoid gently for 2 mins with hammer
15) Turned key
16) Started van.
I do have a video of the 3 attempts to start and the final start but I cant seem to upload it. Be happy to if someone could tell me how?
See attached sound file of 3 attempts and finally starting.
thanks for all your advice and tips guys - social thanks to LOZ , DELLMASSIVE AND NIKNAK - 100% appreciated as always - turns out on this occasion, something id done on classic cars since I was a nipper was the solution - should have tried this first.
Living proof that sometimes its the simple things. But now I've learned little bit more about modern Transporter engines. so thank you.
So what did I do?
1) Checked engine fuses
2) Checked internal fuses
3) Checked starter / solenoid connections
4) Checked the Earth terminal from engine to chassis down left hand side..... I gather this we can call henceforth... the "Loz Earth"
5) Checked the Fuses under the battery tray
6) Got electrocuted
7) Checked the Battery at idol (charged 100% - 12.96 volts)
8) Checked for Voltage loss on battery terminal to connected lead (less than 0.5v loss)
9) Got electrocuted again
10) Checked all the battery cable connections as far as I could...
everything looked great.
11) Had a cup of tea.
12) Looked at the 1275 GT A+ mini engine I've got sat in my workshop.......stared at it for a minute whilst sipping tea.
13) Picked up hammer
14) Went under Van - tapped starter/ solenoid gently for 2 mins with hammer
15) Turned key
16) Started van.
I do have a video of the 3 attempts to start and the final start but I cant seem to upload it. Be happy to if someone could tell me how?
See attached sound file of 3 attempts and finally starting.
thanks for all your advice and tips guys - social thanks to LOZ , DELLMASSIVE AND NIKNAK - 100% appreciated as always - turns out on this occasion, something id done on classic cars since I was a nipper was the solution - should have tried this first.
Living proof that sometimes its the simple things. But now I've learned little bit more about modern Transporter engines. so thank you.
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