Starter motor advice

[tucker]

About 18 months to 2 years ago I had a new starter motor fitted. The car would periodically just not even try to start, it would just click. I had to bump it to get it going. It did this on and off for short while till I replaced the starter.

It's been fine since, until tonight. It's just done the same again which makes me think the starter is again on it's way out. I had to bump it and then it went and also re-started first time everytime afterwards.

Have I just got unlucky with a poor replacement starter that's now failing or is something else possibly causing the starter to die prematurely?

Any views advice or experiences?

[pk7478]

Check the starter directly. If it will not rotate crankshaft, just replace it.
I can give you only this advice.
What means "directly": "constant plus" and "constant minus" takes from battery (don't forget about wires. starter "eats" approx. 180-300 Amps from battery); also use second "plus" wire to connect it to pull-in solenoid.

[tucker]

Thanks.
I will need to have a look at it when I get chance and test it. Could the solenoid be at fault?

Started fine this morning.

[pk7478]

What can be:
1. Faulty solenoid
2. Wear of brushes.
3. No "minus" on power unit.
4. "Dead" battery.
5. Blown fuse in BSI, BSM, PCF(which is under BSM).

[lorraine]

a zx i had did the clicking as you say..it was the positive battery lead.it was loose not on the battery but the lead into the terminal.i was so mad when i found it because it had been like it for years,even replaced starter motor..

[tucker]

I replaced the starter tonight after much messing about as it's tucked away and not the easiest to access at all!

I also stuck a new battery on as I was still on the original Tudor which is over 7 years old now.

I spent far longer on it that I should have. With working partly blind and by feel and touch, I disconnected the two nuts for the power leads and removed motor. When I came to refit found there were three leads knocking about which caused some confusion.

I hadn't seen that positive had two connectors when I took it off so was a bit unsure about the re-connection.

Anyway, they did both come from the same connector. Put all back together, took it for a run and all fine and it's not smouldering on the driveway as we speak, so job done.