Issue With The Car, Not The Ghia

[Lawsy]

Ok, on my car (the astina, not our ghia, I don't drive the ghia much anymore) for some reason the starter motor won't disengage properly.

Heres what happened.

Other day, went to bunnings to get some gear, got back in the car, started the thing up and it made this aweful noise, much worse than the noise you get from from trying to start a car with the motor running, allot harsher, so it seemed...

So I turned it off, started it again, same thing. 3rd time lucky, it stopped trying to engage and I drove off.

It did this once or twice more on other trips since.

Then today when I wanted to get to work (a shift which I really needed), it would engage every 50 meters, having to turn the engine off, clutch start each time to get the thing to stop engaging the starter.

After about half a k of this, I turned it around and came back home.

On the last stretch, I would turn it off, put the key back into the 'on' position to re clutch it, and the starter motor would engage before I had a chance, as if I had turned the key all the way around. So I had a quick fiddle with the key position, and it seemed as though the 'on' position was getting slightly confused with the start position. The problem was, when the thing was actually trying to engage, to stop it meant the key position was borderline on the accessories position, and so it would turn off anyway, back on, off etc.... This isn't fun.

Anyways, I have some warrantee on the car that covers starter motors etc, but I was wondering if it could simply be something stupid, like the key position. Or whether it is a relay near the starter motor that is confusing the electronics or something similar. Or it could simply be that the starter has had it and isn't responding correctly to what its being told.....

Any auto electricians help would be much appreciated.

[drcook]

sell it... but an xr6t :lol:

[Lawsy]

sell it... but an xr6t :lol:

Yeah, get all of 4 grand for it, somehow get the bank to give a uni student, earning barely enough to pay the current loan, a loan for and extra 40 grand so I can buy a T....

If it isn't helpfull, don't post please. But if you think its even slightly helpfull, post away.

[ZAP]

Lawsy,

I think you are on the right track, but I think the problem will be int he starter motor. Try to locate it and make sure there is nothing rubbing on the solanoid. This is the smaller cylinder above the starter motor. I think you might find a wire earthing on the solanoid that is keeping it extended. You may find the starter wire has worn away and is contacting. This would be the most likely problem. If this is not the problem, it would be the ingition or internal in the starter motor.

If you cannot get easy access to the starter motor, I would be going to the loacl auto electrician.

[Lawsy]

Well I think I figured it out, I took off the plastic stearing column sheilding (about 3 screws) and gave it a bit of a turn to see. I from there it was evident where the smell was coming from (I dunno if I mentioned a smell earlier, but meh) and then smelt the ignition switch, and sure enough, that typical electrical burn smell was as strong as anything and fresh.

So, off to the wreckers tomorrow for a 30 dollar ignition switch and the problem should be solved. When testing, it got to the point where I never had to turn the key into the start position. Simply the 'on' position was enough for the starter to kick in.

btw, the starter turns over first time every time. Even after being revved probably 10 times over what it is rated at, it still works 100% of the time. Soon as I fix the switch, all will be good again, hopefully.