Help Needed

[kernowgamer]

I have got a s reg swb 2.5 transit and i am now on my third starter motor . It seems to be that the starter lasts about 3 months then just wont connect to the engine to start it. You turn the key and it just makes a grinding noise then starts, more so when left over night and started first thing in the morning then is great all day. This gets worse and worse over the next weeks / month and then it just wont start, starter turns and makes whirring and grinding noise (like the cog is just missing the flywheel thing) but wont connect to start engine. When i had the starter out last time i had a good look at the flywheel inside and non of the teeth are missing and it looked ok. Is there something i am missing please help as this is started to suck as its a great van other than this problem.
Cheers all

[paul_elwell]

Where you getting these starters from?

[angeleye]

think you need to take starter to a local reconditioner and get them to give you an honest opinion if the starter is ok, if it is , check all wiring , earthing straps, battery condition,ignition switch,does sound like you have bad wiring ..providing you have a good quality starter motor, cheap starters are false economy

[MrMPuk]

Sounds like worn ring gear on flywheel.

[kernowgamer]

Cheers for the help guys . The first starter was the original starter that went that way. Then i bought a starter from a a decent well known motor factors in cornwall and that went so i complained to them about dodgey starter and they replaced it with a new one. All the starters have had the exact same problem even the original starter motor. Is there any other way to know if the ring gear has gone on the flywheel. I will check all the wiring so i can eleminate that.
Cheers again for the help.

[Terry]

I agree with Mr MPuk, sounds like shot ring gear. All engines have a tendency to stop at the same place when shut down. Take the starter out & put a socket on the crankshaft front pulley nut and slowly turn the engine over .
That way you'll be able to examine the ring gear.

[kernowgamer]

cheers for that where abouts is the crankshaft pulley so i can check it.

[Nadjenka]

Crankshaft pulley is the lowest one, below the fan

[ake]

Next time it wont start, put a spanner on the pulley shown and turn the engine a quarter turn, then try again to start it, if it starts its more than likely ring gear, which basically means new flywheel required

[MrMPuk]

Next time it wont start, put a spanner on the pulley shown and turn the engine a quarter turn

Or put it in gear and rock it a little.

[kernowgamer]

been busy lately so havent replied. Cheers for the help so far . Right guys i have removed the starter today and turned the engine over checking the ring gear for worn or missing teeth and theres nothing a miss all seems fine except for some teeth with shiney ends but nothing missing. I have even checked the distance from the housing to the ring gear to see if its warped or buckled and eveything there seems fine. problem started again today turn key starter spins powerfuly and trys to connect but you can here it missing the teeth. Turn key off then turn it over again and hey presto it starts. This is really buging me know.

[Terry]

Hi
Are the starter motor bolts always tight when you come to remove them ?
How many bolts hold the starter on ?

[kernowgamer]

theres 3 bolts holding the starter on and there were nice and tight took some force to get them to move. I have just picked up a new starter so will be putting that one on in a while and we shall see. Is there any way to bench test the starter that came out to see if its throwing the cog out properly.

[winterheating]

if the voltage is to low it can cause that also, and if the motor itself is good even low voltage will turn it ok,(or it seems to be ok)
need to check battery voltage and voltage at starter when static and when cranking. even the ignition live wire may be corroded badly so need to check voltage there also.

[kernowgamer]

cheers for that i have got a multi meter some where. Battery voltage was ok as was checked when had prob with alternator and i read 12.3v when static and 14.4v when running. What voltage should be at the starter when static and cranking.