i have had a problem with my car starting. i put the key in,dash lights
come on as normal, but just wont start it up. if i bump it it will start
straight away! but sometimes i go to start it and it will start normaly!
any suggestions to what might b causing this? i have changed alternater so
know its not this.thank you!

ninak wrote:

> i have had a problem with my car starting. i put the key in,dash lights
> come on as normal, but just wont start it up. if i bump it it will start
> straight away! but sometimes i go to start it and it will start normaly!
> any suggestions to what might b causing this? i have changed alternater so
> know its not this.thank you!


Sounds like a loose connection. Check battery leads are clean and
tight, check the leads to the starter motor and check engine earthing
straps are all clean and tight. If after all that it persists in doing
the same thing then you can go on to investigate starter solenoids,
starter motors, fractured cables and so on.

-- 
Malc

thank you!im a female so give us a clue where theengine earthing straps
are? lol

"ninak"  wrote in message
news:0e613aa62d5bea6b49807a74586c75c1@localhost.talkaboutautos.com...

> i have had a problem with my car starting. i put the key in,dash lights
> come on as normal, but just wont start it up. if i bump it it will start
> straight away! but sometimes i go to start it and it will start normaly!
> any suggestions to what might b causing this? i have changed alternater so
> know its not this.thank you!
>


When you try to start is there any sound ie a click from the starter? Do the
lights on the dash go dim?

You need to discover whether power is reaching the starter and the starter
is not operating, or whether it is not reaching the starter from the switch.


Steve

yes theres a click, lights stay the same!

"ninak"  wrote in message
news:d812aeef82aed5a4bb9f19902efdb7c2@localhost.talkaboutautos.com...

> yes theres a click, lights stay the same!
>
>


Then you almost certainly need a new starter motor.

You could try giving the starter a whack, but at best this is only putting
off the inevitable.

Steve

when we changed the alter, we did the starter motor too, anymore ideas?

"ninak"  wrote in message
news:373224c7482a7db9da763c9245a0f798@localhost.talkaboutautos.com...

> when we changed the alter, we did the starter motor too, anymore ideas?
>
>

Was it a new starter?

Are the connections to it tight? Check the thick lead from battery to
starter is tight at both ends. As someone else has suggested, check the lead
from engine to earth. I'm not sure exactly where it is on your car, but it
should be fairly easy to spot. It is the only thick lead bolted to the
engine/gearbox at one end and the bodywork at the other. This should also be
tight at both ends.

If the starter clicks, this means power is reaching it from the switch.
Assuming it also has sufficient power from the battery, then the problem
lies in the starter. It *could* be jammed in mesh, but this is extremely
rare nowadays.

Anyway, I've got to go out now, so you're on your own. Sorry :-))

Steve

thank you shazzbat

ninak wrote:

> thank you shazzbat


As I've said in a previous thread somewhere (but not of any
importance)it is possible for the wire going to the starter to fracture
internally. It looks ok externally, but the wire inside the sheath is
broken. You can test for that by running a similar thickness wire in
parallel with the lead and seeing if this improves it. Earthing straps
ought to be, as someone said, fairly obvious and go from the engine to
a nearby point on the car body. They also need to be clean and tight.

-- 
Malc

Think I had the same problem on my 1st metro years back.

On the bulkhead left hand side of the car under the bonnet are two
relays, white or yellow about an inch cubed in size. One of the two and
I can't remember which controls the starter solenoid. Worth checking it
is plugged in tight, the contacts are clean and if all else fails
replace it.

Best of luck

Ian

Malc wrote:

> ninak wrote:
> 
>>thank you shazzbat
> 
> 
> As I've said in a previous thread somewhere (but not of any
> importance)it is possible for the wire going to the starter to fracture
> internally. It looks ok externally, but the wire inside the sheath is
> broken. You can test for that by running a similar thickness wire in
> parallel with the lead and seeing if this improves it. Earthing straps
> ought to be, as someone said, fairly obvious and go from the engine to
> a nearby point on the car body. They also need to be clean and tight.
>