[dazmond]

ive had no problems with my van starting(transit connect) until today.2 jobs in and it wouldnt start.at first i thought it was my battery but it was brand new 6 months ago.

engine turning over VERY SLOWLY then a pop,backfiring and smoke from the wiring!!luckily ive got call assist with my commercial van insurance.so i phoned them up.took them 90 mins to get to me though.

he thinks the starter motor is on the way out.anyway he got it started in the end so i drove it down to my local garage and they cant fit me in til monday morning.

so ive sacked today off.the thing is the van is starting fine now albeit a little delay in starting.

i dont know whether to risk trying to work the rest of the week or sack it off until its fixed!

problem is if i cant start it again ill have to get someone to tow me home(or bump start me) as call assist wont come out again to the same problem without charging me!

decisions,decisions!

anyone else had a dodgy starter motor and been able to get around with it for a few days?i dont wanna just take the rest of the week off if i can help it!

cheers in advance guys


dazmond

[Don Kee]

Park on a hill so if any thing goes wrong you can bump start it
Or leave thr van on while working...

[Smudger]

Leave it running 

Darran

[dazmond]

OR i could fill my two 25L barrels up and use my backpack in my car for a few days cleaning tops only with the pole.although i dont think 50L would clean many windows!

i might just take the rest of the week off until its fixed!

id never leave my van unattended whilst its running.no chance!

[Don Kee]

Sarcasm isn't some peoples strong point eh?

Using it with a dicky starter is only going to lead to other problems
Mate its pooped, just wait until its fixed and enjoy the time off...

[Ben wood]

As long as battery is ok the starter motor will be ok if not put the van in gear and rock it back and foreword while turning over if not get out find the starter motor and hit it with a hammer a few times. I had to do this for over a week on a old van.

[dazmond]

i would of been having most of next week off anyway as its just the way my works fallen this month.ill just reschedule from next tuesday onwards.

[David Kent @ KentKleen]

If you have had or seen smoke coming from the wiring I would not use it until you have had it looked at.
The last thing you want is the whole lot going up in smoke. The starting circuit has some pretty 'beefy' cables in it and are normally 'UN FUSED' straight from the battery. You DO NOT want these shorting out!!
Maybe try another garage if your usual one is too busy.

[mufcglen]

defo get it in a garage if you heard pop and smoke from wiring but just check all connections on starter and earth points etc, ive had a few cars in past with bad connection that needed a quick clean up and away i went but only went dicky every now and then untill i cleaned up the connections, most of the time starters just need a knock to get going unless theyve stayed engaged then usually burn out and wont work again! and never rule out the battery either even if it is new as they can go faulty especially this time of year but sounds more wiring connection/earth issue with pop smoke you mentioned,try getting somone to start it in dark and see if you can see any sparking around connections on starter earth leads etc from bad connection!

[Dave Willis]

Easy, as you don't work half the month anyway just shift your holiday weeks to now - lose no money, no downtime and the van gets fixed. Spend the week in the most expensive hotel you can find and bonk yerself stupid.

Happy Days!

[dazmond]

Easy, as you don't work half the month anyway just shift your holiday weeks to now - lose no money, no downtime and the van gets fixed. Spend the week in the most expensive hotel you can find and bonk yerself stupid.

Happy Days!

i work 4 weeks out of 5 dave.so if its a 5 week month then i usually get a few days or a week off at the end of the month.

if the van starts first thing tomorrow then im gonna crack on.i hate having days off when the weathers dry/settled!

[David Kent @ KentKleen]

What about the smoke?

[andyM]

What about the smoke?

Can't afford it this week now, he will have to make do with the sex and rock'n roll.

[richard groves]

Starter motor went on my pug expert last winter. AA call out to confirm the problem and helped bump start me. Called round local breakers and parts stores and picked up a reconditioned one for £35 within 30 mins ( kept engine running ) then just drove around local garages to find someone who could fit it that day, by lunchtime I was sorted and back at work plus got a fiver cashback for the busted motor from the parts store I bought the recon one from.
Can't be any different in Manchester area and fords are everywhere.

[dazmond]

What about the smoke?

mechanic said it was from the oil leak(oil on the wires going to the starter motor.it was only a little bit of smoke).the popping sound only happened once.he said it was a backfire.

thing is its starting up fine at the moment again.

[brianbarber]

There was a wiring issue on my old connect that main dealer told me about,got local vehicle electrical specialist, it's a section from alternator to battery, may or may nor be related to your problem.

Mr B

[David Kent @ KentKleen]

Dazmond, for oil 'on a wire' to smoke you are in a serious situation. Do not use your van! IMO! Or get your oil leak fixed!   

[rosskesava]

Starter motor went on my pug expert last winter. AA call out to confirm the problem and helped bump start me. Called round local breakers and parts stores and picked up a reconditioned one for £35 within 30 mins ( kept engine running ) then just drove around local garages to find someone who could fit it that day, by lunchtime I was sorted and back at work plus got a fiver cashback for the busted motor from the parts store I bought the recon one from.
Can't be any different in Manchester area and fords are everywhere.

I've a transit connect.

I had problems starting the engine especially when cold. It sometimes had the symptoms of a flat battery. Often after protracted trying to start the engine would smoke like hell for about 10 - 15 seconds. Other times the battery would go flat before it would start.

So.... bought a new battery. £90. It was fine for a few months then the same problem.

Garage said it's the starter motor. The mechanic towed me around the corner to the garage. From arriving at the garage to having a recon starter fitted, about 90 minutes. An hour of that was waiting for the recon starter motor.

Cost me the grand sum of £52.

Daz, sod waiting the best part of a week for a simple job that's basically just a few bolts. I'd go elsewhere.

[richard groves]

A routine oil, oil filter and air filter change is also a good idea this time of year or a service at a local garage before the mornings get cold. 

[CleanClear]

Daz, sod waiting the best part of a week for a simple job that's basically just a few bolts. I'd go elsewhere.

Spot on.