Any auto-electricians or vehicle mechanics on here?

[Paul ™]

Hi there,

 

Looking for some help on an issue I have with my Transit.

 

It is a 1990 Ford Transit Minibus, 190 LWB 15 seater. 2.5 Diesel which I converted over the winter into a campervan, see thread HERE

 

I have been using the van a lot this summer, while working away at various festivals and sometimes I have had an issue starting it. 

 

It started off very intermittent, and the majority of the time the engine would turn over but not start. This would be resolved by giving it a jump from my leisure batteries, and it would start up most of the time.

 

There has been one occasion where it didnt start that way, but started ok from another vehicle that was running their engine for 5-10 minutes.

 

There has been a couple of occasions that it would not start with a jump, but then I have went back out to the vehicle later that day/week and it has started.

 

There has also been one occasion more recently where it wouldn't even turn over and just made a clicking sound, but started with a jump from the leisure batteries.

 

Also this could happen when I am out using the van, on a run and I would stop at a garage/shop etc and then just not start till jumped.

 

Last week, it wouldn't turn over at all or jump start from the leisure batteries at all and just clicked. I got a breakdown guy to attend, and it wouldn't even start from his huge booster pack. He thought it would possibly be the starter motor and went on his way.

 

I ordered a starter motor, but before it arrived I went out a few days later and the van started first time, just the once and then its back to the clicking sound. 

 

I replaced the starter motor yesterday and there is no change, it won't start at all.

 

 

So guys, any ideas what I should be looking into doing? It's currently outside my property, so is it best to get it towed to a mechanic, auto electrician or is there something I can do from here?

 

Many thanks in advance and sorry for the long winded post

[grumpyhack]

Sounds to me like your battery is knackered.  I've got a 2.5 diesel Audi which was getting troublesome to start. and I thought that it might be the glowplugs needed replacing.  But in the end one day it just wouldn't start.  RAC came, checked the battery and it was dead.  New battery and now no problems.

Any battery place will be able to check it for you for free.

[Paul ™]

Ok thanks mate, will get it out and take it to get tested.

 

Tried to put a jump lead between the starter and the battery earth to rule out the earth connection, but same thing happens.. nothing

[eFestivals]

it'll be either the battery or a 'tired' starter motor by the sounds of things.

Best of luck getting the battery checked. I tried to get one checked about a year ago and was told no garages do battery drop-tests any more.

Edited September 3, 2015 by eFestivals

[Paul ™]

Battery been checked, its a digitial machine now that apparently tests the cells.. anyway report it printed out said battery condition is good, and the fact the van doesn't even jump start now is making me think its either wiring/earth issue or something more serious.

 

The starter motor has been replaced, could be a duff one I guess, will take it out and test it tomorrow

[grumpyhack]

When you switch on the ignition, without going as far as trying to start the van, does the glowplug light go out, indicating it's ready to start?  If it doesn't go out fairly promptly then it's probably either knackered battery without enough power to warm the glowplugs or it's glowplugs that need replacing (not always a cheap job).

[frostypaw]

Just an idea but may be worth stripping any protection from around the battery terminal connectors and checking the condition of what's left therein.... your problem read exactly like what happened with a car of mine.

Upon changing then testing the battery then the alternator all seemed fine and upon that suggestion cut the heatshrinky stuff off and the contents fell out like so much coppery powder - fuck knows how it had ever started frankly. Just a thought if everything else is looking fine

[Paul ™]

When you switch on the ignition, without going as far as trying to start the van, does the glowplug light go out, indicating it's ready to start?  If it doesn't go out fairly promptly then it's probably either knackered battery without enough power to warm the glowplugs or it's glowplugs that need replacing (not always a cheap job).

Goes it pretty promptly to be honest, which it always has done.

 

Just an idea but may be worth stripping any protection from around the battery terminal connectors and checking the condition of what's left therein.... your problem read exactly like what happened with a car of mine.

Upon changing then testing the battery then the alternator all seemed fine and upon that suggestion cut the heatshrinky stuff off and the contents fell out like so much coppery powder - fuck knows how it had ever started frankly. Just a thought if everything else is looking fine

Good point, some of the connections do look a bit iffy.

 

Think am gonna have to take it down to an auto-electricians at the start of the week, and just pray that it;s not going to cost hundreds to fix

[spg]

Warn starter motor bush? Motor sticks engaged and cannot clear, extra jolt from fresh batteries may have given enough to shift it. Only based on old vw but a similar sort of problem.

[Paul ™]

Starter was replaced.

 

Anyway I had been out every couple days trying to start it, trying a couple things.

 

Yesterday called the breakdown people out again so they could to it to an auto-electricians. Just before calling them I tried to start it, same wouldn't turn and just clicked.

 

As soon as the guy turned up and tried it, it started first time! Unfuckingbelievable! 

 

So I drove it to the garage, left it with them to run tests on electrics etc.

 

They called in afternoon, it was starting 100% of the time for them! Sod's bloody law.

 

Anyway I've got it back, been out in it a few times today and starts fine, seems quicker than ever started before too.

 

Hopefully it's fixed then, as away up north today in it for 6 days! 

[frostypaw]

Better take a chicken to sacrifice just in case - fingers crossed for ya!

Edited September 8, 2015 by frostypaw

[spg]

Best of luck with it Paul.

Bush part I spoke of is on the engine side not attached to starter motor but into which it engages. Therefore changing the starter motor wouldn't have made any difference. On my engine it mainly happened when hot so prob not your solution but you never know.

[PastCaring]

Best of luck with it Paul.

Bush part I spoke of is on the engine side not attached to starter motor but into which it engages. Therefore changing the starter motor wouldn't have made any difference. On my engine it mainly happened when hot so prob not your solution but you never know.

Hummmm .....

 

I've been watching this thread with interest, as I have a vw campervan with a starter problem.  We've tried all of the things mentioned above, and the van is a little better than it was, but not completely cured.

 

Finally, booked to take it into the garage Tuesday night, and I had a real job to get it started and keep it ticking over - lots of missing and spluttering.  The following morning the garage try the ignition and it starts first time without any problem! Typical!

 

Would the starter motor bush problem, by any chance, cause the van not to want to restart after it's been running for a while - for example, after having stopped to get some petrol?

[Paul ™]

Am up north and its been starting OK every time I have checked it. And that was leaving it for 24hrs too.

And definitely is starting much easier and quicker now, so fingers crossed still that it's cured.

[PastCaring]

We're collecting our van later today.  Fingers crossed it'll be okay cos we're due to be going to the coast for a few days tomorrow!

[spg]

Hummmm .....

 

I've been watching this thread with interest, as I have a vw campervan with a starter problem.  We've tried all of the things mentioned above, and the van is a little better than it was, but not completely cured.

 

Finally, booked to take it into the garage Tuesday night, and I had a real job to get it started and keep it ticking over - lots of missing and spluttering.  The following morning the garage try the ignition and it starts first time without any problem! Typical!

 

Would the starter motor bush problem, by any chance, cause the van not to want to restart after it's been running for a while - for example, after having stopped to get some petrol?

Yeah hot restarting on old VW's is often this bush. If you get stuck a whack to the starter motor with a hammer often sorts it

[Paul ™]

Made it home tonight, starting fine still... and still as fast  

[PastCaring]

Well, we still struggle to get the van started, in spite of its trip to the garage!  And, to top it all, we arrived at the coast on Saturday to discover that a large part of the exhaust had fallen off during the journey!  Time to book in with a vw specialist, I think ...

[Paul ™]

*Update*

 

Just as I know a couple people were following this, that is a month on since it was 'fixed' and the van is still starting with no issue, quicker than previously.

 

So looks like it was the starter after all, just with a hiccup after the new one was fitted so it wouldn't start!