Hi

I've got a an 02 Octy VRS with 43k on the clock. owned it for a year and its been faultless, its just had megabucks spent on an MOT (passed easily)

Take a rubber mallet or if you don't have one a small block of wood and a metal hammer. Find the starter motor and hit it a couple of times (not too hard) and then try starting it again.

If that doesn't work, with everything off, put the car in second and with the handbrake off gently rock the car forward a little. Stick the handbrake on, put it in neutral and give it try again.

You may just have hit a dead spot on the starter motor where something is starting to wear out.

I had an old fiesta survive on that for about 2 years before it properly conked out due to a rusted earth, which i bodged up until i replaced the starter a year later.

You can usually pick up an exchange starter motor for a reasonable price, it just depends how handy you are with a spanner, as I found it wasn't that hard on the fiesta.

It takes lots and lots of "stop start engine on off" driving to wear out the ring gear (we're talking years of Police type work with the car being driven short distances, stopped while the driver visits someone, started and driven a short distance... here). I'd say it's most likely the connections or the solonoid if you can't hear it, or the starter motor itself spinning and doing nothing.

Is there a fusible link in the starter feed on an Octy? You could have blown that if so. Check for 12v at the starter.

Thanks for the replies,

Had another look, whacked it, did the 2nd gear trick, still nothing.

Got my breakdown cover out - reckoned the starter was scrap. Got him to tow it to the local garage that serviced it and they confirmed the starter was knackered.

I would do it all myself (loads of experience in track tuning and rebuilding dolomite sprints) but sadly i dont have the time so the garage are going to replace the motor.

Oh well, its only money:(