How did roadside assiastance start my MK5?

[OuterMongolia]

I have broken down in France now twice ! A fail to start . First time I got towed away to a garage where I was told I needed a new starter motor and it would be 650 euro .I questioned the mechanic a bit saying it was too high a price .he said he would test the starter motor to see if that was the problem .he fiddles around gets the van started and said my second battery was "bad " and he had isolated it and it was now fixed . i drives away back to where I`m staying about two hours away .I stop to do some shopping ,come out again put key in ,turn it nothing except a clicking noise .Same problem .Call roadside assistance.he arrives in a hour and half . Fiddles around with the starter motor with a screwdriver ,bangs a bit ,pushes something in then gets theb engine running .He says it will get you home but what ever you do don`t stop the engine and change the starter motor as soon as . Anway the situation I`m now in is Starter motor will arrive shortly but I`ve got to get the vehicle to the mechanic to have it fitted .How to start it ? How did this recovery guy start the engine with a screw driver ? Did he push something in or by pass a circuit or something with the screwdriver? Anyway I get it satrted or call roadside assisatnce again ?

[Punto443]

He probably bridged the starter terminals, to throw the solenoid over.

I don't advise doing this if you are not 100% sure what ones to bridge!

[OuterMongolia]

Yes exactly what I thought ! Don`t try it unless you know exactly what you are doing !

[Altransit]

If it's a starter issue, can't you get a few burly guys to give you a bump start; or maybe someone to tow start it

[FredTransit]

Could be the solenoid, give it a good hard thump with a hammer. If not push/bump start it and be thankful it's a Di.

[kcrespo9]

Guys I have a mk 7 with the same issue.......can anybody show me a pic where starter is located ....i suspect under engine near oil sump....really appreciate any help here.mk 7 2007 transit 2.4 tdci....wont crank just clicks upon starting.....HELP !!!!!!

[FredTransit]

Guys I have a mk 7 with the same issue.......can anybody show me a pic where starter is located ....i suspect under engine near oil sump....really appreciate any help here.mk 7 2007 transit 2.4 tdci....wont crank just clicks upon starting.....HELP !!!!!!

Whatever you do, DON'T follow my advise! That's Di's only! Bump/tow starting yours could do engine damage.

[toppetsaha]

I had a similar problem with my escort van, i used to get somebody to turn the key & hold it on the start position & i would hit the starter motor with an iron bar. I think the solenoid was sticking so the wack would tend to free it up a bit.