Van booked in, yay!

[mariesnowgoose]

Just managed to get the van booked in for a full service next week.

The garage we use are always stowed out with work and it's often a few weeks before you can get a slot, so I'm pleased.

They are old school.

I'm hoping they will find be able to find the source of the intermittent starter problem.
I suggested it could need a new starter motor, but they've said hold fire.

They want to keep it in overnight after it's service so they can try starting the engine when it's cold, which is always when we get the starting problem, and then take it from there.

Anyone who was at the Goosnargh meet in November will know what I'm on about...

 

[Nesting Zombie]

Fingers Crossed for you & hopefully it’s a relatively Easgy & inexpensive fix

 

[Fisherman]

Just managed to get the van booked in for a full service next week.

The garage we use are always stowed out with work and it's often a few weeks before you can get a slot, so I'm pleased.

They are old school.

I'm hoping they will find be able to find the source of the intermittent starter problem.
I suggested it could need a new starter motor, but they've said hold fire.

They want to keep it in overnight after it's service so they can try starting the engine when it's cold, which is always when we get the starting problem, and then take it from there.

Anyone who was at the Goosnargh meet in November will know what I'm on about...



View attachment 138154

Hope you get things sorted with min costs and hassle Marie.

 

[Fisherman]

Just a thought Marie, do you know how old your starter battery is, because batteries are less efficient when cold, and there’s a good chance that’s what’s causing your issue.

 

[mariesnowgoose]

Just a thought Marie, do you know how old your starter battery is, because batteries are less efficient when cold, and there’s a good chance that’s what’s causing your issue.

Good point, Bill, no we don't.

Probably a good idea to get a new one anyway

It has sometimes not started when the weather has been quite warm though, so not necessarily the battery?
Davef suggested at Goosnargh that it was likely a bad solenoid connection and he's someone who is well qualified to know about such things

Hence why we think a new starter motor may be required. We shall see.
I don't care what it is, I just want it fixing!

 

[Robmac]

We've also got a starting problem Marie.

Sometimes we just get a click then after the second or third turn of the key it then turns over and starts.

 

[AllanD]

We've also got a starting problem Marie.

Sometimes we just get a click then after the second or third turn of the key it then turns over and starts.

Have you checked your earth strap/s Rob. Crappy earth connections can give that problem (as well as others).

(Hopefully your garage will rule that possibility out too Maria)

 

[The laird]

It sounded like a relay at goose meeting when I heard it click then burst into turning the engine over
The relay did click as it turned over unless there were shell fish in there clicking the claws it was chilly

 

[Robmac]

Have you checked your earth strap/s Rob. Crappy earth connections can give that problem (as well as others).

(Hopefully your garage will rule that possibility out too Maria)

I did Allan and to be fair it has seen better days. I took it off and cleaned up the terminal connections and it seemed to cure the problem for a while then it came back, but a complete replacement would be the next step, thanks.

Just went outside and started it for the first time in a couple of weeks and it fired up first time, I'll take it for a run tomorrow.

 

[colinm]

Which reminds me, need to check our starter. At first I thought it was the battery, checked that and it's fine. I've since noticed that the reluctance to start doesn't seem to relate to battery voltage, and further to that sometimes it struggles to turn the engine over, but then it speeds up turning the engine over. First I need to check the starter and it's circuit, my only other experience of something similar was a Disco with a cracked inlet port.

 

[mariesnowgoose]

It sounded like a relay at goose meeting when I heard it click then burst into turning the engine over
The relay did click as it turned over unless there were shell fish in there clicking the claws it was chilly

The first relay we had replaced not so long ago was for the engine temperature gauge which was reading high on the dash as soon as you switched on the engine key - the engine didn't have to be actually fired up for the temp gauge to shoot up to red.

A new replacement switch fixed the problem (in reality the engine wasn't overheating at all).

I'm still betting on it requiring a new starter motor, but what do I know?!

With this particular problem (not starting from cold) nowt happens at all when you first turn the key. There' s no clicking of any kind to be heard - no dash lights, no noise of any kind, everything just dead as a door nail.

When it does finally decide to fire (after a few tries) then I'm assuming there will be a clicking noise at that point? But initially there is absolutely no noise from anything.

With any luck our garage will hopefully get to the bottom of it next week.

 

[merl]

I had a similar problem with intermittent cranking on my old 3 ton dumper truck.
Thought it was the battery, it wasn't.
Thought it was the Earth straps, it wasn't.
Thought it was a dodgy solenoid, it wasn't.
Took the starter motor off, opened it up and found that the brushes and springs were crapped up and sticking, I suppose sitting outside in all weathers doesn't help. Gave it a good clean up and re-assemble (Thanks you tube!) and now she starts like a good un. A couple of hours work in total and saved the cost of a replacement starter motor.

 

[wildebus]

Can't remember if there are any specific common starter issues on the T4 vans? As been said, this time of year is when a dodgy battery will give up the ghost, so always a likely culprit.
hopefully will be sorted when it is in the garage.
Took mine in last Wednesday and still there! It is starting to look a bit tricky on the frozen food front as fridge/freezer been running off the inverter (240V compressor model) and being off-grid since last Wednesday morning the batteries are starting to get rather low

 

[barryd]

Best of luck Marie. Its always a drama! In over ten years nobody ever resolved the cold starting issue with Hank the Tank 1. It always started but sounded like a bag of spanners in a washing machine until it warmed up.

 

[merl]

It is starting to look a bit tricky on the frozen food front as fridge/freezer been running off the inverter (240V compressor model) and being off-grid since last Wednesday morning the batteries are starting to get rather low

Apparently there's a geezer from Kelso who frequents these pages that's rather good at dealing with those sort of issues

 

[mariesnowgoose]

I had a similar problem with intermittent cranking on my old 3 ton dumper truck.
Thought it was the battery, it wasn't.
Thought it was the Earth straps, it wasn't.
Thought it was a dodgy solenoid, it wasn't.
Took the starter motor off, opened it up and found that the brushes and springs were crapped up and sticking, I suppose sitting outside in all weathers doesn't help. Gave it a good clean up and re-assemble (Thanks you tube!) and now she starts like a good un. A couple of hours work in total and saved the cost of a replacement starter motor.

If it needs a new starter motor, Merl, then a new one it will have.

I’ve looked up (I think!) what they might cost for this particular van version.

1. they appear to be available and 2. they don’t seem to be too expensive (sub £100 - excluding fitting, obvs) - but got all my fingers and toes crossed as ever!

Will all depend on the verdict from the garage.

You have to remember I am not a mechanic and I’m too old and buggered to start and learn how to be one now…. there is no way I’ll be taking out a starter motor and dismantling it!!

 

[Tim120]

You have to remember I am not a mechanic and I’m too old and buggered to start and learn how to be one now…. there is no way I’ll be taking out a starter motor and dismantling it!!

That's Neil's job

Seriously though, sounds like you have a good garage, so

 

[merl]

there is no way I’ll be taking out a starter motor and dismantling it!!

Where's your sense of adventure girl? But TBF I actually thought your mechanic could possibly do it if need be
Seriously, good luck for tomorrow

 

[merl]

That's Neil's job

Neil's in hiding somewhere. His knuckles still haven't healed from that thermo switch thingy job he did.

 

[mariesnowgoose]

Where's your sense of adventure girl? But TBF I actually thought your mechanic could possibly do it if need be
Seriously, good luck for tomorrow

Not tomorrow, Merl, have to wait until a week Wednesday.
Lucky to get it booked in at all before Xmas with this particular garage.
They are good and trustworthy and always have more work than they can shake a stick at.