Intermittent Dead Starter Mk2 Tdi

[Icedefender]

Hi all,

 

My starter works fine for days then randomly is totally dead.

Sometimes it plays up, then works, other times its fine (although its fairly slow turning over). Sometimes its just totally dead.

 

I have read as many posts on here as I can find, Seems that people have changed starters and its worked for some but not others, There's the relay 30 issue, I don't think mine is that. When it fails, all I get it a relay click and nothing from the starter at all. One occasion RAC got it going with a jump start, the next time this failed and it needed bumping.. Drove home, tried it and it was dead. Got up this morning and it starts fine.

 

Battery is fine and connections good. Alternator is a bit rattly but seems to be charging ok.

 

Has anyone found the real problem with all of this, I can try and take the starter off and check the contacts/ brushes but don't want to spend time on the wrong job.

 

Cheers

 

 

 

[seatkid]

If the click is from the starter solenoid, then its almost certainly worn brushes or a burnt out/open circuit winding. The commutator is never perfectly round, so depending where the rotor stops, the brushes may or may not be in contact. Alternatively one of the windings maybe be open circuit which is connected to a few of the commutator segments. Slow turnover also possibly indicates that not all segments/windings are connecting/working.

 

Iirc, the starter solenoid is connected directly to the ignition key, so no electronics involved.

 

It may be easier to change the starter than change the brushes. If the winding is burnt out/open circuit then changing just the brushes wont help.

Edited July 10, 2016 by seatkid

[Icedefender]

Hi, Thanks

I can relate to what you've said there, that would explain the intermittent fault.
I guess I'll have to get my local garage to look at it as I can't get under it to remove the belly pan.

 

Cheers