Starter Motor Problem

[dirtbiker]

I'm having a bit of a problem with my 1.4 (AEX Engine) Ibiza:

Sometimes when the engine is cold the starter motor will not engage. Turning the key just results in a whirring noise. A few tries at starting it gets the starter to engage and the engine turns over and fires fine but I'd obviously rather it didn't do this!

I'm guessing that there's just some sticky oil in the system (which is why it never does this when the engine's warmed up). Is it just a case of stripping the starter motor from the block and giving everything a good clean or is there something more sinister I should be aware of?

Cheers

 

[CraigW]

Do you get a grinding noise when you turn the key before it fires up?? Like if you held the key after the car started?

Is the car struggling to fire up/takes longer than usual?

 

[m0rk]

might be a bit of crud stopping it from engaging

did I send up a spare starter with that engine? i can't remember

 

[torquesport]

no really straight forward really also check its being earthed and why you have it out you can test it just make sure its earthed. read about a few people with this problem if you undo the 2 bolts on the motor and the one on the solonoid and give the cogs abit of grease as they can sometimes stick. or maybe the bushes are goin in it

 

[monkee]

i had a similar problem, and it turned out that the ignition coil was burning itself to smithereens! £55 after VAT to replace, so its not that sinister!

 

[dirtbiker]

did I send up a spare starter with that engine? i can't remember

Thanks all, you did send a spare mOrk but it was very different to the one I took off!

Just unbolted it, sprayed some WD40 on the moving parts and fired the solenoid a few times (on the bench top). Seems to have done the trick!