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Starter motor or battery power

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Starter motor or battery power

Postby Fred- Mk1 camper » Sat Dec 12, 2020 4:41 pm

My Mk1 Essex is really sluggish on starting. On turning the key the starter motor really labours. On the next attempt it might turn more freely. Often I might attempt 5-10 times and sometime until the battery is drained.
If we leave ignition to one side could it be-
1- I need more power, bigger batteries, although sometimes I double up.
2- I need a new starter motor
3- the turning of the engine has become too difficult
4- something else

Many thanks
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Re: Starter motor or battery power

Postby Altransit » Sat Dec 12, 2020 4:54 pm

Welcome to the forum :)

Is it Essex V4 or V6 :?:
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Re: Starter motor or battery power

Postby Fred- Mk1 camper » Sat Dec 12, 2020 5:27 pm

V4
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Re: Starter motor or battery power

Postby conrod » Sat Dec 12, 2020 8:31 pm

could be a number of things; battery, cables, connections, starter motor.

Best way instead of guessing and replacing parts is to test and diagnose the problem correctly. Borrow a digital voltmeter if you don't have one already. Connect to the cable at the starter motor, and starter motor body. get someone to crank engine and note reading. If the voltage is 10 volts or above, and cranking slowly then starter motor is faulty. If it is below 10 volts, then check voltage across battery when cranking.

Let me know results and I will tell you where to check next. :D
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Re: Starter motor or battery power

Postby Fred- Mk1 camper » Sat Dec 12, 2020 10:08 pm

Great. I’ll dig out the voltmeter and see if I can do that tomorrow. Will get back to you. Thanks
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Re: Starter motor or battery power

Postby Neil » Sun Dec 13, 2020 9:54 am

clean your earth leads ? starter connections
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Re: Starter motor or battery power

Postby Muttley » Tue Dec 15, 2020 10:26 pm

Check ignition timing and points gap :)
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Re: Starter motor or battery power

Postby Chug » Tue Dec 15, 2020 10:44 pm

Use some jump leads from another vehicle/battery direct to the starter, if its still the same then your starter is worn, if it turns over quicker your wiring needs attention.
And as said timing and poins gap being correct will help on cold mornings.
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