Starting problem

[Wotawee]

Hey all,
I have a problem with my fc3s. When I bought the car the owner told me I had to hit the bracket that comes up the side of the altenator 3 times and then the car would start on the key, and it does (strangly)! I have circled the bracket on the picture attached.
 

Has anybody else had this problem before? I imagine its a sticky starter but some of the lads reckon it could be the altenator needing a refurb :confused:

[Prof]

Or maybe you just need some belts?

[Wotawee]

LOL never mind the belts, it was a picture off the net :Hammer

[grinder]

that looks like the alternator adjustment bracket , is the bolt tight on the bracket ??

you might have to hit that to re-position the alt ??

[Prof]

LOL never mind the belts, it was a picture off the net :Hammer

Sorry - couldn\'t resist
 
Being serious now - is the belt lose or tight to the alternator ?
 
Also, are there any grinding noises from the alternator bearing or any sign the belts are wearing / freying (spelling) at the edges?

[Wotawee]

No worries Prof.
 
All the belts are normal tightness and no noise from the altenator and all the brackets and bolts are also tight.

[Prof]

I suppose the question is - what happens if you don\'t hit it with the hammer ?
 
What are the symptoms ?

[Wotawee]

I suppose the question is - what happens if you don\'t hit it with the hammer ?
 
What are the symptoms ?

 
It dosent start

[no_boingers]

It dosent start

In what way doesn\'t it start!  What does it do?  e.g. click, whirr, grind, bang, what? - go on give us a clue!

[grinder]

i love that answer .. it doesnt start !! LOL

unless there is a loose wire around there to the starter , and when hitting it - it moves it and makes a circuit

[Lacey]

i love that answer .. it doesnt start !! LOL

unless there is a loose wire around there to the starter , and when hitting it - it moves it and makes a circuit

It could be a number of things. "It doesn\'t start" is possibly the most useless reply if you geniunely want help.

Until theres enough viable information to actually assess the problem and a worthwhile description, have fun smashing the **** out of your mount with a hammer.

[Wotawee]

It does nothing,dosnt turn over, no clicking no buzing no whiring nothing - silence.
 
Then hit it with the hammer and bang fires up like it should.

[m1tch]

Have you checked the connection to the starter motor? it might be slightly loose and when you knock it vibrates the engine and it connects just enough, once its running the starter motor isn\'t needed so might work loose again

[Prof]

Could be a sticking starter motor - one little knock on that with a hammer will prove that either way.

[no_boingers]

It does nothing,dosnt turn over, no clicking no buzing no whiring nothing - silence.

In which case I agree with the Prof - it\'s likely to be a sticking solenoid on the starter motor.