Mazda Rotary Club

General => General Technical => Topic started by: Gatesy on October 02, 2007, 01:14:53 PM

Title: Think its the starter motor
Post by: Gatesy on October 02, 2007, 01:14:53 PM
Got a bit of a weird one.  Sometimes if I have left the FD standing for a few days when I come to start her she wont turn over.  Get a clunking sound from the engine as soon as I start the key which sounds to me like the starter motor jamming but if I turn the key a few times she starts no problems.
Any way to test that this is the case?
Title: Think its the starter motor
Post by: elford_tim on October 02, 2007, 01:46:55 PM
Sounds to me like the starter may not engage - check all the cables first to ensure you\'ve got a good connection. I assume you already checked that the battery voltage is OK.

It may also be useful to put the car in top gear and try to rock it a bit to see if that\'s improving matters.
Title: Think its the starter motor
Post by: ro284 on October 02, 2007, 02:30:37 PM
Try it at night, put headlights on, then when you try and start it, the load of the starter motor will dim the lights, especially if it\'s seized, had a similar fault (not on the rex) you will often hear the solenoid click first, sometimes it may spin over, but if it is the starter motor seizing up, they generally get worse, and could leave you stuck somewhere,with mine sometimes i had to have someone hold the ign on to turn starter and then whack starter with a long handle, (keeping clear of the wiring!) when it would spring in to life,to get me home. so mine was on the way out,
Good luck Bob
Title: Think its the starter motor
Post by: Gatesy on October 06, 2007, 12:06:20 PM
Cheers for the info guys I may try taking the starter off and giving it a clean.