[landy2]

I had a new starter motor fitted about a month ago now it will start when it wants other times nothing , looked at it and the earth cable does not seam to be connected to terminals but just touching body of starter motor , does anyone know if this wire should be bolted to terminal and as just come loose , as when it does start it makes a buzzing sound .

[Gav Camm lammy 283]

Yes should be bolt up tight

[landy2]

cheers

[landy2]

gav  how come it starts up sometimes and then nothing othertimes , when the garage gave it back they had the earth bent back to the casing of the starter touching a black foam like plaster now that wire has started to go rusty .

[landy2]

just checked pictures on internet that wiire is right .  could it be the starter relay

[Spruce]

There are 2 cables to most starter motors. A heavy cable that comes from the + battery terminal to a terminal on the starter solenoid, and a second thinner wire that comes from your ignition switch, usually via a relay. That cable lug needs to be tightly secure to the solenoid terminal post.

The earth cable is usually secured from the battery to a point on the engine, usually on one of the bolts that join the engine and gearbox together. It could also be bolted to the starter housing using one of the bolts that holds the starter motor.

A steel bolt and an alloy thread carrying a heavy current can cause corrosion to the alloy over time which doesn't make a good contact. If it isn't secured tightly then you must do that.
With regard to your earth cable, clean all contacts and protect with copper grease. You can also copper grease onto the bolt threads so they will also be protected, but you must be careful not to over grease.

If you have a set of jumper cables, take the black one only and put one of the spring clamps on the negative battery post and put the other on a bolt somewhere on the engine and see it it starts regularily then.

[wightsurf]

If a garage done the work,i would get the van back there as they have bodged it.

[Spruce]

If a garage done the work,i would get the van back there as they have bodged it.

I agree, but he needs to start it to get it there.

[landy2]

looking at it one wire earth looks like it loose just stuck to body of strarter motor but looking at picture of starter on the net it looks that is as it should be .  the problem is i turn the key and nothing happends i kept turning it and it started so took it home , when i parked it up tied to start it and started ok , but it has been doing this for a few weeks starting when it wants , now i am thinking could it be the relay . there like a buzzing when i start it up

[wightsurf]

I would phonethem,they messed it up,come and get it. Did exactly this earlier in the year on my 4x4 ,they turned up with a transporter   different problem but all the same the garage messed up.

[landy2]

any  ideas , need van for thursday dont want to be stuck when out and it not starting .

[robertphil]

bypass the ignition switch +relay (if it has one,not many do) to test the starter .  

1st --remove the trigger wire off the starter solenoid and  attach a  long thin insulated wire to the same terminal.  2- touch the other end of this wire onto battery positive.  if every time you touch the wire onto the battery the engine cranks,you know the starter itself is fine

if sometimes theres no cranking then starter or solenoid has a fault/  remake the earth connection as a secondary check too

[landy2]

thanks robert
the starter motor was brand new about 2 months ago , but when i start it up since it was fitted there is a buzzing noise then starter motor kicked in . but now 5 out of ten when i turn the key its dead nothing but lights on dashboard light up .

[Frankybadboy]

gallon of petrol and a box of matches will help