Guest ugp Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 (edited) Problem with the starter / solenoid on my 1uz conversion, it started doing this occasionally, but now is all the time. If I persist / I get lucky, it will catch and fire, but it takes ages and ends up flooded + flames out of the intake. The starter seems to engage when I turn the key to STA, however it only stays engaged for a split second, then it stops again. If I hold the key in the STA position, it will re attempt to start every second or two, but again, disengages before it has the chance to fire. Any ideas? Burnt contacts? I've checked the obvious, plenty of juice in the batteries, good earths, checked all the wiring too. If I stick +12v to the solenoid directly it starts fine. I've also just been out and checked the starter relay, now here's where the fun starts. If I measure voltage across the two terminals that get a supply to energise the relay, its a solid 12v for as long as the key is held. If i short out the two terminals that the relay would bridge when energised, the car starts fine and the starter spins for as long as I hold the bridge in place. I tried another relay (fogs) and I had the same problem with the starter not engaging for any more than a split second. I then got inpatient and ripped the casing off of the relay, I can see it releasing every half a second or so, then a a second later energising again. The relay contacts look a little black. Could this be the problem, if the terminals get hot from a bad connection? What threw the spanner in the works for me and stopped me saying "ITS THE RELAY" was that the fog relay did exactly the same. Thanks guys. Ben Edited October 2, 2011 by ugp (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodge Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 Does the car have a distributor or coilpacks??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjy Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 Possibly a faulty starter relay. I had this on a Focus a few weeks back. Customer was adament it needed a starter so i fitted one at his request. Then when the fault was still there I replaced the relay and it cured it. Sent from my iPhone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ugp Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 Does the car have a distributor or coilpacks??? Twin distributors, one per bank and twin coils. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ugp Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 (edited) I've just updated the first post with some more findings, your input would be much appreciated. Thanks Ben Possibly a faulty starter relay. I had this on a Focus a few weeks back. Customer was adament it needed a starter so i fitted one at his request. Then when the fault was still there I replaced the relay and it cured it. Sent from my iPhone Edited October 2, 2011 by ugp (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lude Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 checked correct wire going to the starter motor 12+ ei thick enough so correct current getting to it or maybe the starter motor is dead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ugp Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 I'm going to pull the starter today and strip it down. It was all working fine, then this problem gradually got worse, now to the point where it's a pain to start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew_flux Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 sounds like a solenoid fault. the hold in coil may be open circuit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagman Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 IS it an auto or auto to manual conversion as there is a switch that inhibits start on the autobox -it could be playing up , then try the ignition switch itself - short out the contacts used on the ignition switch and see if it always starts or not -this controls the start relay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ugp Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 (edited) Auto to manual. I've checked the inhibitor, that was soldered short. When the key is held there is a perm 12v feed to the relay, checked it with a multimeter. It stays at 12.* for as long as the key is held. Also when I run wires from the relay socket on the fusebox (the feed from key and ground to pins 1 and 4), the relay stays energised for as long as the key is held. However, I didn't check it with the outputs connected to the relay (to the solenoid). Edited October 2, 2011 by ugp (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagman Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 you are checking off load so its less valid a check - you need to use a load ,for example a bulb - then there is current flow and thus a volts drop -this will show high resistance contacts either in relay or ignition switch or wiring to starter -if all are good then its the starter or starter earth at fault Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ugp Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 Managed to sort this by cutting the stock STA wire in the fusebox and running a new +12 switched feed to the relay from a push button start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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