kooky_guy said:

Hi All,

Having finally got the RR jacked up enough to get underneath it, I'm just trying a few more diagnostics before I bite the bullet and start removing the starter.

You may recall that when I turned the ignition key, the negative battery terminal started smoking after a second.

I've just tried putting a jump lead from the battery negative to the starter and now the positive terminal is smoking when I try the starter.

Is this telling me anything useful? Even if its just to confirm that the starter is indeed knackered?

I've tried tapping it with a block of wood and at one point I did get some sounds other than a click from the starter, but it's back to simply clicking again now. It's a very loud and healthy sounding click though!

Is there anything else I can try or should I just get on and take it off? Any value in running a jump lead from the battery positive to the terminals on the back of the solenoid to exclude the cable? Or is that a bad idea?

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kooky_guy said:

Than Keith,

Can't get a jump lead in there anyway, so have given up for today. I think the starter must be dead - it's certainly not showing any signs of life. I'll try and get another one this week.

I'll try and get a friend to help helicoil the top bolt once its out too which ought to make refitting it a lot less painful.

I'm still worried that a new one is just going to go the same way, but I need to get it running so that I can move it somewhere where I can actually open the drivers door!

I'm almost persuaded to just add a 'press to start' switch somewhere now to isolate the relay - it seems an almost impossible task to actually find the fault.

Click to expand...

kooky_guy said:

Thanks TomCat - unfortunately I think the problem is both.

Fancy making me something along those lines Keith?!

Click to expand...

kooky_guy said:

Thanks TomCat - unfortunately I think the problem is both.

Fancy making me something along those lines Keith?!

Click to expand...