VP V6 enginer not turning over

[spoonfork]

Just a bit of history about the car before I jump into the problem. The car has been in Storage for 3.5 years and was working fine before then. Now the engine won't turn over. After 3.5 years the was Battery was obviously flat so I jumpered it to another vehicle. The engine doesn't turn over and instead I here a rattling sound (like a rattle gun). I unbolted the starter motor (left it hanging out the bottom with the wires still attached) then tried starting it to see if the starter motor turned over. And yes it did, each and every time and no rattling sound (which at least tells me that the rattling sound is coming from the starter motor area).
I figured the engine had seized up but I can manually turn it over with a spanner. I'm no mechanic or auto electrician but would like to try and fix this my self. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks

Ian

[greenfoam]

The starter will be siezed up a bit. If you pull it apart and clean it the gear should free up. Otherwise a few solid whacks with a hammer can usually shock them into life

[VN_Luke]

either that, or you still don't have enough current to properly engage and drive the starter motor when it's under load....

in order of fun, I would do:

1) re-fit starter motor
2) whack the starter motor a few times with a block of wood (nice 2x4 should reach in there nicely)
3) try restarting
4) re-try jump-starting, and make sure you have a good solid connection for max current

[spoonfork]

Thanks guys. With the starter motor still connected via the wires but unbolted from the engine and hanging out the bottom, if I turn the ignition I can see that the starters little gear wheel pops out and spins free. I figured that it would mean that the starter is not jammed. When I bolt the starter motor back in and try starting the egine the rattling sound can be herd again. I've already tried wacking it with a piece of wood but will try again. It looks impossible to disconnect the positive wire from the starter motor (not enough space to fit a socket or spanner. might have to remove some bolts on the steering rack and push it out of the way to get access, unless some one knows an easier way? I read the post on how to remove a starter motor but the suggestion there is to unbolt the manifold, which I think is a little bit too excessive.

Thanks for your suggestions

[VrWagz1]

Sounds like you have a dead flat battery, take it out and put it on charge. If a battery is dead flat it will draw more current than the starter, there is reasons this happens but i wont bore you with it. So when you hook up the jumper leads the battery in a sensce soaks up all the power and the starter wont kick properly.
You can somtimes get around this by putting the jumper negative directly on the starter

[VN_Luke]

just be reallly careful with all those big fat chunky positive wires hanging near the engine etc....

I would in this case try taking the battery out of another car, and bolting it into the vp - and trying again

the rattling sound will be the gear popping out of the starter, trying to turn the motor, dropping heaps of power, and then dis engaging..... x 100

[centy]

mate you need more current to the starter.
put the battery from the other car into the vp and try again.

[taskmaster]

i agree to remove the battery and give it more of a charge or just swap the battery's out

[spoonfork]

That did the trick! Yes it was the flat battery causing a massive power drain even when jumpered. I had to physically remove it and bolt another battery in. Engine seems to be ok too. Can't believe it still going after 3.5 years in storage.

Thankyou all for your help (especially VrWagz1 you were spot on!)

[DavoVP]

Question, did you dump all the fluids before takeing it for a drive ? 3.5 yr old oil + coolant cant be the best. Im amazed the fuel wasnt that stale the car didnt like it.

[spoonfork]

Yeh I changed the Oil and Oil filter, had to top up the power stearing fluid and will be changing the coolant soon. It's not registered so the furthest I've taken it is 200m down my street and back. I've just left it outside idling for 15mins at a time to check if there's anything wrong and so far nothing (Doesn't even leak anything)! tyres are a little flat. Fuel prices have gone up heaps since I was in Oz 3.5 years ago so I might sell it!