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The mkiv Supra Owners Club

Starter Motor / Solenoid help (.wav file attached)


carl0s

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This is what's happening to me, more and more often. Basically if I try to start it'll usually start on about the tenth attempt.

 

I'm thinking that the clicking is the solenoid, so that's okay, so perhaps the big power cable from the solenoid to the starter is what's at fault, as the symptoms are pretty close to those of a flat battery, so I guess the starter isn't quite getting enough juice.

 

How does one get to the starter and solenoid to have a play?

 

Here's the sound anyway..

http://www.css-networks.com/click.wav

 

Thanking you for any help :)

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Carlos, jack the car up - make sure it is on axle stands!

 

The starter motor is located at the back of the engine, and is a tight fit.

 

If the solenoid is clicking, but the starter motor is not engaging, I would suggest that you get a refubed one as to take it out, is a bit of a cufuffle: it would be an arse if you get it out, mess about with it and then get it back in and it does not work!

 

I know that the solenoid is an electromagnet and pushes the pinion onto the flywheel, the shaft it sits on could be worn, it happened to me on an old car I had.

 

Good luck.

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I know that the solenoid is an electromagnet and pushes the pinion onto the flywheel, the shaft it sits on could be worn, it happened to me on an old car I had.

 

Good luck.

 

Ah, that's interesting. I was for some reason thinking that the solenoid was used like a beefy relay, but that's stupid.

The starter isn't turning, so it's not what you suggested. Sometimes I get a half-hearted flat-battery-like turnover for half a second or so.

 

I'll keep my eyes out for a refurbed unit, but it's nice to have a clue as to where it is. Thanks Daz.

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I know this sounds stupid, but is your battery ok? Get it to the local motor factors and make sure it is approx 660A Cold cramping amps.

 

However, I am 98% sure that it will be the shaft that the starter pinion sits on, sounds exactly the same as the car I had!

 

Plenty of people breaking Soops and Whitesupraboy bought an engine and he might have the starter you want?

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I know this sounds stupid, but is your battery ok? Get it to the local motor factors and make sure it is approx 660A Cold cramping amps.

 

However, I am 98% sure that it will be the shaft that the starter pinion sits on, sounds exactly the same as the car I had!

 

Plenty of people breaking Soops and Whitesupraboy bought an engine and he might have the starter you want?

 

Battery is about 2 - 3 months old Calcium battery. I'll get searching after christmas :) It has been doing it for about 4 months but usually only in the cold mornings, now (today/yesterday) it's every time I get in.

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Your solenoid contacts are burnt out. I keep them in stock, or I can re condition the strater itself, given just the motor, or the car as a whole. Very common fault.

 

Does the starter need reconditioning or just the solenoid replacing, or are the starter/solenoid joined as a single-unit? I'd like to do the work myself - I'm getting a creeper board off my uncle for christmas :D

 

What's actually happening? Are the burnt-out contacts not passing enough current to the starter-motor or is it something else?

 

How much for the solenoid/solenoid-contacts? I don't even have a clue what the system looks like - nevermind how it works, so please excuse the possible stupidity of the questions :)

 

cheers!

Carl

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Does the starter need reconditioning or just the solenoid replacing, or are the starter/solenoid joined as a single-unit? I'd like to do the work myself - I'm getting a creeper board off my uncle for christmas :D

 

What's actually happening? Are the burnt-out contacts not passing enough current to the starter-motor or is it something else?

 

How much for the solenoid/solenoid-contacts? I don't even have a clue what the system looks like - nevermind how it works, so please excuse the possible stupidity of the questions :)

 

cheers!

Carl

 

Its basically how you say, the burnt out contacts arent passing the current on to the starter motor, they are joined as a unit.

Do a search on here as i seem to remember someone else having similar probs not long ago, all you need is the two part numbers for the insides of the starter motor.

mine went about 4months back, i did it all myself, the hardest part is taking it off and putting it back on. It'll cost you £14 for the parts.

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