SWMBO's ageing Renault 5 has started (hmm, I'd like to have avoided that word) to play up on the starting front. The starter motor intermittently refuses to crank the engine over. I've checked that there's a 12V feed from the ignition switch 'D' position to the starter soleniod - there is - and the main high current connection to the solenoid and earthing are all fine. She's generally OK when she's cold, but drive her a while, stop and then trying to restart tends to highlight the problem. Could be heat related?
Anyone experienced similar intermittent behaviour from a starter/solenoid combination before? I guess that either the solenoid itself or the starter motor brushes are in the process of packing up, I'm just surprised it's so intermittent.
Any previous experience or words of wisdom gratefully listened to before I head off to the scrapyard in search of booty.
Rich
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I had just that problem with my marina. Just heard a click and nothing happened. Solution was to push car forward a little bit in gear with help! That released the jammed starter and it was OK for a month. Problem was caused by worn flywheel gears and damaged starter thread. I replaced starter later for £30 exchange and this did the trick.
Another time no click on turning starter, I dismantled solenoid and found contacts worn. Solved just by cleaning up and turning round. No cost of spares, just time!
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RM,
Given you have checked the feeds this is likely to be a typical starter motor ageing fault.
It is possible to look/clean but sometimes they are a pig to get into. A new one for a R5 petrol is only £52+ at Andyspares.
Another long shot is the ign switch. Have you checked the 12v feed to solenoid is still there when it doesn't start?
David W
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Thanks for your response gents. I have indeed checked the 12V feed to the solenoid when the problem occurs and it is present. I've also tried rocking the car in gear in case anything's jammed and had no luck with that.
My feeling is that it's the solenoid as I can't hear the 'click' of the contacts closing when I energise it via the starter switch when the fault is present - it's been a while since I played with solenoids/starters but I did expect to hear something - am I mistaken?
I can have a bash at dismantling and cleaning, but - as DW says - these can be tricky to open up. German Swedish & French (aka AndySpares) are offering exchange starters at around £60 (as you mentioned DW), anyone know whether an exchange starter for a Renault 5 (petrol 1.1 Campus) comes complete with the solenoid, I couldn't see a solenoid listed separately in the GS&F catalogue.
Thanks again
Rich
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This is going to be a standard Valeo unit with the solenoid piggy-backed on the starter....yes?
If so the new or exchange unit will be complete and ready to fit.
Had exactly the same job on a ZX a while ago, I never experienced the fault but the customer asked for a new starter anyway as it was driving her mad.
Problem sorted despite the fact that the old starter and solenoid both looked perfect.
David W
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David,
In fact it's a Ducellier starter with a piggy-back solenoid, but German Swedish & French tell me that the OEM is irrelevant and the Valeo unit fits all. I guess I don't have a lot to lose by dismantling the solenoid if possible and giving it a clean up. If it fixes it then fine, otherwise I'm in for £60 worth of exchange starter/solenoid.
Thanks for the info
Rich
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I had similar problem with 340 Volvo (Renault 1.7 engine)last year. From memory the starter was Valeo I believe. On this one you could prove electrical operation of solenoid contacts once starter motor was on bench. I sucessfully dismantled starter motor to check and found that copper brushes were almost non existent! I replaced brushes (but I had to make them, by cutting down from the nearest oversize available (similar configuration of leads etc). Total cost £3.70.and totally reliable. The supplier, who reconditioned starter motors etc, said he normally carried spares but needless to say when I arrived there were none in stock.
If this is your problem let me know by posting here and I will look out supplier name.
pmh (was peter)
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Peter,
I'm going to dismantle and inspect. If I do need a source of brushes then I'll reappend here.
Thanks for your offer of help
Rich
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This reminds me of my first car..a 1973 Mk1 Escort 1.3L with auto gearbox......with drum brakes all round, no servo and a dynamo for the electrics! (built just before they started fitting goodies like alternators and discs/servo).
After a full off road restoration including a new battery I started getting intermittent starting problems. The starter motor was a solenoid pre-engaged type (as opposed to an inertial type)
and the solenoid was moving and making a very good thunk as the key was turned....but no movement from the motor, all voltages ok.
This was very annoying since being an auto I couldnt rock the car to move the starter ring gear teeth. Also couldnt bump start the car.....jump starting was not possible since it was not the (new) battery at fault.
Eventually stripped out the starter/solenoid ....a real pig on an auto escort due to the main crossmember and part of the gearbox cabling....and cleaned up the internals of the solenoid and its contacts.....the solenoid was just slightly sticky causing the contacts to not completely close every time this caused some arcing and contact degradation. All was well after a good clean and reassemble.
regards
Ian
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I had a similar problem on a MkIII Cortina 2000E. AA man showed me how to fix it - after that I always carried a long-handled hammer to hit the sticky solenoid with (the handle, not the hammerhead!)
Happy days :o)
Terry
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