Hi all,

I have recently bought a 'new' starter motor for my defender 200 TDi (H reg). I bought it from a breaker, but it should be a matched part. It is a Bosch one, and slightly different to the one that was in there. I have, after much swearing got the old one off and the new one on, however, when I try to start the motor, I get nothing. It seems to be wired in correctly - one earth lead to the back post (all of which screws out, unlike the old one) and the rest to the top of the solenoid. Alls I can think of is that the plastic push-plug has got very oily, and so may not be making a connection, however, the old one worked (It was lazy and I didn't know how much longer it would last for).

Does anyone have any bright ideas as to what could be the problem? Its driving me mental. If photos would be a help, I'll post some.

Thanks very much,

Steve.

piccy

In further developments - the battery does not appear to be carrying much charge, I have placed a jump lead to the post on the old starter motor and it isn't turning, although the lights etc are working...this may explain why I'm not even getting a 'click'. The battery was new in feb. I am now charging it.

Here are the pics though in case it isn't that. first pic is the old starter motor, the rest are the new one in situ.













All input gratefully received.

Has the new starter got the same bulge as the old one?
This is where its geared down on the diesel starter, just wondering if you have a petrol version looks the same just minus the casing bluge.


Lynall

Yeah, the starter is the correct one.

I have now: Taken the new starter off as the post on top of the solenoid was wobbly, fixed this with a washer so that the post has no play in it. Tested the new starter motor on a battery using jump leads (it turns fine). Put the new starter motor back on and tried to start the van with a different battery (the one I used to test the starter motor when it was off the vehicle). It still gives me nothing.

I have cleaned out the plastic push-switch with a bit of wire.

I am now utterly flummoxed.

Any ideas anyone?

Have you checked that you've got a good earth to complete the circuit?

I've got to the bottom of it!

Turns out it isn't the slide connection (which I have stupidly been calling 'push switch' so far) itself, but the connection wire. I connected a piece of wire from inside the connector (I jammed it in alongside the existing wire and gaffer taped them together) and touched it to the +ve on the battery and it starts fine!

I have traced the fault back to where the bundle from the ignition connect to the wires under the bonnet. Sadly, it seems there's no power coming from the steering column.....

So, rather than strip all the wiring out from under there, which may drive me actually insane, I was thinking of running a push button switch, which I will mount next to the dash to the starter motor and connect to a live next to the steering column, which seems to be easily accessible. I can then urn the key till the glow plug light fades, push the button and hey presto the engine will start.

Tell me this isn't a daft idea please.

Will work fine just make sure the starter button is ign live only.


Lynall