Rattle on start up

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ScratchyDom

Well-Known Member
Posts
1,151
Location
Norf Dorset
Fix one problem and another one appears.

Ever since I got Scratchy 'ee rattled for a second or two on startup, like the starter motor was over running. Just recently it's carried on for a few more, up to 5-6 seconds.

Then this morning the rattle just wouldn't stop. I was about ten miles away and it kept on rattling. Tried switching it off and on again (which had worked before) and tapping the starter wiv a hammer to no avail.

Stopped at a garage (not a Landy one) on the way back and the chap listened down a screw driver and said that the starter was still running but didn't know what to do about it.

Was nearly home and the rattle suddenly stopped.

I seem to remember someone hearing the starting rattle (Chippy Recce..?) and saying it was a sticking solenoid. Can anyone give me some hints on how to fix this?

Ta...
 
Pull the starter and have a look see, if you leave it, it may damage the ring gear which is a lot bigger job to replace.
In answer to the oil pressure question, no it wont affect the starter, how quick does the oil light go out from a cold start?


Lynall
 
Got the starter off, what a *fun* task that was.

Started to unbolt the starter, realised that I should disconnect the battery, oops. Got it unbolted using a whole variety of extensions. But the realised that there was absolutely no way it was coming out without removing the down pipe.

Because it's so tight on the footwell (Disco 200TDi in a Defender) I had to cut down one of my trusty 17mm spanners to get the bolt off. But then there wasn't enough leverage to crack the nut - hammer time!

All the nuts off, but because of the proximity to the footwell it wouldn't pass the studs. So did the two nuts tightened on themselves trick to get the studs out. Then had to separate the downpipe from the front pipe - a bit (lots)of hammering and it came free.

Then it still looked like the starter wouldn't come out. Lots of wiggling, quite a bit of swearing and one skinned knuckle later and it was out through the top.

Took it apart, as much as I could. Didn't have a clue what I was looking at. Put some copper grease on the copper tube thing and cleaned everything else with break cleaner and a wire brush, assembled it and wanged it back in.

Went to test it, before replacing the down-pipe with the stop sol disconnected and nothing, not even ignition light.

Thought I might have fecked it from the sparks when I'd forgotted to disconnect the battery. Checked the fuses and they weren't blown. :confused:

Then realised, I hadn't connected the +ve battery lead to the solenoid, d'oh.

Seems to work, although there still seems to be an overrun on the starter. Really canna be @rsed to check any more tonight, way too knackered.

Although I did start it with just the down pipe on - if the cab didn't fill with fumes I'd leave it like that. Gonna have to fab me a side exit, straight through jobby!

Any clues on how to refurb a starter / solenoid?
 
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