wont start. again.

[Brin]

got stranded at the shops today.

walked to wreckers got a battery, still wouldn't start, alternator would just whine. after cranking her a few times she started, we came home, she wont start now.

starter motor??

although when you hold the key turned in the ignition, it still whines but smoke comes from the neg earth beside the battery??

ideas? im stranded!

[camstatic]

clean up the spot where it's smoking from with a wire wheel/sandpaper, tighten everything up, give a quick coat of something to protect from corrosion/rust...

[Brin]

done and done. cleaned all terminals and earths with sandpaper.. no go. it still seems to smoke when i try to start her, but only if i hold the key turned in..

its felt weird to start for the last few days. the starter hasnt been cranking as many times as she usually does, meaning its been cranking less but feels less powerful to start.. if that makes sense. the mechanic boyfriend said this was a good thing when i told him the other day, look whats happened now...

anyhoo i still have this large click and then zaps from the earth next to the battery when i try to start her. alternator still wants to spin though. i have been bashing the starter motor all night with a hammer and a screw driver, doesnt seem to wanna work. so my next go is a starter from the wreckers tomorrow... does anyone have any instructions on how to replace a starter in a vn? or is there a how to on here? i cant seem to find one..

thanks..

[Ozzie]

give it a can of StartYaBastard

nah seriously, check for spark then check for fuel.

If the engine turns over then its not the starter or battery but a possible fuel/spark issue.

[Brin]

there is spark and i know this cause it hurts!! haha.
there is also fuel i can hear the fuel pump priming cause it is a noisy bastard!!

i have found a how to on changing the starter motor.. which says that ill have to remove an exhaust header, which i wont want to do.. or the steering rack, which i wont want to do. and technically, wouldnt removing the steering rack involve getting another alignment afterwards? gah. i had this starter put in by the nrma following my pops dodgy one about 8 months back, i dont remember them taking my car apart to do it..

tips for helping me put a starter in please?

[Brin]

may i also add.. the battery was producing 12v off, and when trying to crank it was going up by a few points.. the alternator is producing 14v..

but everywhere in the bay tended to zap me.. the top of where the shockies sit, the coils, and when i took the battery out tonight my spanner touched the fuse box and MAN IT HURT! why is she burning me i dont get why she'd die all of a sudden.

after the replacement battery from the wreckers today she wouldnt start and she managed to start on the third go, and then die once more after turned off..

[camstatic]

let me just clear this up, is it actually winding over? and just not firing?

[Brin]

all electrics working, but when you turn the key there is no cranking whatsoever. just a loud click, and if the key is held turned smoke from the battery earth.. symptoms of a flat battery but i have two fully charged batteries.

I have to get pop to take me to the wreckers, swap the battery i got today for a starter motor and then catch the train to scrambletown with my handbag full of tools and sockets and my new starter motor, and hope that thats my problem..

[Brin]

is it safe to blame the starter motor for my woes if...

my boyfriends vl has starting issues that are solved by him 'hotwiring' the starter - connecting a wire straight from the starter to the battery and she starts right away.. he tried this on mine which just only slightly turned the alternator..

im freaking out cause im gonna be on a public road with only tools i can fit in my handbag and whatever supercrap tools are in my car, with my scissor jack. my death will be on the news. bus falls on girl.

PLUS THE FACT I HAVE NEVER CHANGED A STARTER MYSELF. and the how to on here says to remove the spark plugs. why? and the exhaust header and or the steering rack. *angry face*

HAYDZ WHERE ARE YOUUUUU lol

[VrWagz1]

I think it is safe to assume its the starter. If the negative is burning, to me it sounds as if a winding in the starter is short and just creating excesive current draw on the circuit and thus your smoke issue. Practice on the starter at the wreckers on a different way to pull it out and put it back in. Dosnt matter if you break their crappy wreck.

[camstatic]

Have you tried bashing the starter motor with something like the butt of a hammer whilst someone tries to turn the key? Sounds like the solenoid is jammed somehow, holding the key on the start position won't help you though, just do quick repetitions on/off.

How's your earth lead that goes from the engine straight to the negative battery terminal? If you're unsure, grab a jumper lead, clip it onto a solid part of the motor somewhere, and clip the other end to your neg battery terminal and have another go.