Hi, before I order a new starter motor, I'd like some opinions. My diesel truck is not the most enthusiatic starter now its getting colder. When I start the truck I alway pre heat twice, when I turn the key, the engine turns over a couple of time and then makes a noise like the teeth on the starter motor/flywheel arent meshing. It's not let me down yet, as continuing the pre heat - turn key usually gets it going after the 3-4th attempt. Once the engine is warm is starts as it should/no problem. It's going to get colder and I want to sort this out before it lets me down. What do you lot think the problem is? It had new (albeit cheap as chips) glow plugs just over a year ago.

If you have a weak battery, the cold will only make it worse.. Could be worth looking into this first before buying a new starter.. Try starting the vehicle after its been sat overnight connected to a slave vehicle thats running, if that eliminates your problem, its the battery!

Edited 16 November, 201213 yr by fakedollar

Hi, before I order a new starter motor, I'd like some opinions. My diesel truck is not the most enthusiatic starter now its getting colder. When I start the truck I alway pre heat twice, when I turn the key, the engine turns over a couple of time and then makes a noise like the teeth on the starter motor/flywheel arent meshing. It's not let me down yet, as continuing the pre heat - turn key usually gets it going after the 3-4th attempt. Once the engine is warm is starts as it should/no problem. It's going to get colder and I want to sort this out before it lets me down. What do you lot think the problem is? It had new (albeit cheap as chips) glow plugs just over a year ago.

As Fakedollar says, it poss the battery, but if it is the Starter, why not take it off the car and strip down and lubricate and refit as this

will poss cure it.

radiotwo

I shall try both of these in the morning, I'll let youknow how I get on.

Just tried jumping it, starter motor still did a little 'skipping', but it did start much better. I think I shall invest in a new battery anyway as the one I have was on the truck when I got it 2 1/2 yrs ago, therefore dunno how old it is? I shall have a fiddle/lube of the starter next.

Thanks for the advice.

keep it coming if there is any more!?

Popped a new battery on,the old one needed replacing if the small indicator on the battery is to be believed (said 'replace'. Still the same problem of the motor 'skipping' could this be worn ring gear? (Wouldn't it do it all the time then?) I think next step is to get a new starter motor. Is it worth getting one from a breakers yard? If so how much would you say is the going rate for a diesel starter? I have found a new one for £60 odd quid on ebay.

Is there anything servicable in a starter motor? Are there re-build kits available? Or is the '5 spanners' (for very difficult) in the haynes book to be believed? Or are they just an utter pain in the horse?

It could be a weak solonoid, and IIRC it's replacable independantly of the starter motor on a Felly.

It could also be a worn ring gear, since the engine usually stops in one of 2 places (TDC 1 and 4 or 2 and 3), and for some reason on most engines its usually 1&4.

seems to be a problem with the diesel starter--seen a few that have the gears eaten.

2 probs seem to be involved.

1 is the ignition switch looses its spring back and it just keeps running.

the other is due to the design of the starter drive locking ring/circlip, it sits in a hollow

and is very difficult to remove and even worse to refit.

Seen 3 lately with the shafts hanging loose and pinions worn, end bearing knackered with the locking ring missing, presumably in the bell housing--2 were recent recons.

My first pickup had a slipping drive and completely eaten end gear. Bought a new drive, £40, and stripped the starter. Found it necessary to grind away a bit of the gear end to remove the circlip and on refitting, to ensure its security, had to weld the very end of shaft to the circlip.

There must be a way with a special tool but reconners don`t seem to have it and despite my efforts couldn`t fabricate one

I found that the 10 tooth tdi golf drive (felly diesel is 9) fits inside the diesel felly carcass/nose and has the same pitch so mates up and have repaired 3 by slotting the complete s/h end shaft/drive units and end bearings into the worn starters as opposed to buying difficult to fit expensive new drive units.

One on the red pickup been there for 3 years now

Have needed to remove and turn the ring gear only once, its usually the old or recon starter

Many thanks Rolo, I'm keeping everything crossed that it aint the ring gear, I don't fancy removing the gearbox for a second time this year! Annoying thing is that I can't even whip off the starter until saturday due to it being dark/needing the truck for work the next day! There is a cheep petrol starter in a breakers near me £15, do you recon its worth buying this to rob bits off? (there's also a polo diesel one, which I guess is different?)

<p>polo diesel has the same engine but different flywheel

Petrol starter is much smaller capacity but endshaft/drive is possibly the same. Should bolt up and work as a whole unit, but not recommended.

Ta, I have ordered a new one from ebay for 65 quid. Thanks again for your oracle like knowledge!