Starter Motor Failed? Options

[kirk46]

hi all..

tried to start the 146 the other day with no joy...

thought the battery was dead... ive had to charge it a few times due to it not being used so i bought a trickle charger

the battery is fully charged and she wont even turn over

everything lights up as normal etc, code light goes off but when i turn the key... nothing

sometimes i here a clicking sound from the bbob after i tried to start her and left the ignition on so i took the to red relays out and gave the terminals a good clean and checked the fuses... still nothing

now im stuck or has the starter motor jammed/failed?

[buellboy]

Normally starter motors have a tendency to start making noises before they fail but it is possible that your brushes have no meat left in them. Does the car start on a bump start? Also check your fuses, the core sometimes touches the armature due to failed bearings and this can cause fuses to blow!

[kirk46]

Normally starter motors have a tendency to start making noises before they fail but it is possible that your brushes have no meat left in them. Does the car start on a bump start? Also check your fuses, the core sometimes touches the armature due to failed bearings and this can cause fuses to blow!

i dont have the space or dare try and bump start her because i live on a hill and if she doesnt bump start also shes not taxed or insured and wouldn't want her left at the side of the road.

so check the starter motor fuse?

once or twice ive heard a couple of fast clicks from the starter motor i think....

[Cloverleaf76]

Can you jump start it from a running car, rather than trickle charging? If the battery won't take a charge that might explain it...

[kirk46]

Can you jump start it from a running car, rather than trickle charging? If the battery won't take a charge that might explain it...

batterys fully charged and has been taken off the trickle charger for a week now and is still full

This post has been edited by kirk46: 29th January 2013 12:32

[Alfa SA]

batterys fully charged and has been taken off the trickle charger for a week now and is still full

kirk give the starter motor a couple of hits with a hammer to see if it loosens or stick the car in gear and try and rock the engine while flicking the key make sure you choke the wheels and handbrake on in case she starts and jumps forward

[black 146]

batterys fully charged and has been taken off the trickle charger for a week now and is still full

i had a battery said it was fully charged on the charger and it would not start anything
but when i had a drop test done on the battery was cork! and the same thing on the boat when it sits around for so long and it gets damp and it stick's
and ive got two battery's on it . and i would do what alfaSA said give it a good whack it works

[kirk46]

will do.....

its a tight fit to whack it with a hammer lol

[AJ]

If you can hear it clicking then the solenoid is working but the motor isn't turning. This is due to only a few reasons:

1 - The brushes are worn - solved by replacing brushes
2 - The commutator is dirty - solved by cleaning the commutator. The dust from the worn brushes is conductive
3 - Brushes are stuck - solved by stripping/cleaning.
4 - Winding is broken in the motor - new motor unless the damaged winding is on the outside
5 - Bad wiring from the solenoid to the motor

Giving it a good whack is a good idea and often frees up the brushes if they are stuck. Alternatively you can turn the key and hold it in the start position with the car in 1st gear and then try pushing the car forward. Just watch it doesn't catch and take off - best done with 2 people!

will do.....

its a tight fit to whack it with a hammer lol

Use a bar/socket extension/anything, place that on the starter and hit the end of that with the hammer

[kirk46]

well i gave it a good whack and sprayed the terminals still nothing

[Cloverleaf76]

Have you tried jump starting from another car? It is very common, especially if it's been sitting aroundd for a while at this time of year, for a lead acid battery to lose power. It may still show 12v potential diffetence between terminals but you need to measure the Cold Cranking Amperage or CCA. Due to the high current involved this can only be done with specialised kit so the easirst thing to do is try a jumpstart.

[GialloEvo94]

Failing the above, it's possible you may have the same issue as mentioned in the following post...

http://forum.alfa145.com/index.php?s=&...st&p=201828

[Cloverleaf76]

Failing the above, it's possible you may have the same issue as mentioned in the following post...

http://forum.alfa145.com/index.php?s=&...st&p=201828

Well remembered GE

I just recall thinking "oh, i must remember that" and then goldfish like thinking "remember what...?"

[AJ]

Have you tried jump starting from another car? It is very common, especially if it's been sitting aroundd for a while at this time of year, for a lead acid battery to lose power. It may still show 12v potential diffetence between terminals but you need to measure the Cold Cranking Amperage or CCA. Due to the high current involved this can only be done with specialised kit so the easirst thing to do is try a jumpstart.

An easy way to test is to measure the voltage when cranking - hold the key in the starter engaged position and see what the voltage reads. If it drops to much below 12, the battery is dead. You can try checking the levels of the cells and filling up with distilled water and you might get lucky, but if not - it's dead.

[kirk46]

will try to jump start from another car...

arrrgghh ive got no jump leads

[kirk46]

Just tried jump starting her using the GTA, but not a sausage....

gona take the battery to be tested me thinks

[GialloEvo94]

Just tried jump starting her using the GTA, but not a sausage....

gona take the battery to be tested me thinks

If you can't even jump start it, it won't be a battery problem.

[langers]

Earthing?

I tried 3 different full charged batteries on the turbo before it would start. All the symptoms of a flat battery but it was a poor earth.

[Jaykzn]

Normally starter motors have a tendency to start making noises before they fail but it is possible that your brushes have no meat left in them. Does the car start on a bump start? Also check your fuses, the core sometimes touches the armature due to failed bearings and this can cause fuses to blow!

I think I might have the same problem, tried 3 batteries that I know has no fault, I have jumped started my 147 , but the minute I try to start it I hear some clicks around the starter motor, I haven't tried tapping it with a hammer just thought to get some suggestions on what to do

[dante giacosa]

I think I might have the same problem, tried 3 batteries that I know has no fault, I have jumped started my 147 , but the minute I try to start it I hear some clicks around the starter motor, I haven't tried tapping it with a hammer just thought to get some suggestions on what to do

Hello JayK,

welcome aboard- although the 147 isn't our core specialism; the details this particular fault should be generic

if you hear a rapid clicking around the starter; it is likely the battery- what happens is; the turn-of-the-key engages the starter solenoid, which pushes the motor gear forwards onto the flywheel, but when the motor tries to turn it drops back because of lack of current, but then due to the lower current demands of the solenoid; come forwards again.

this happens very rapidly within a second and can sound like an impact drill in a wall

you say you have jump started it, but when you try to start it, it won't start?

How do you mean..? Will it start from an external battery?