Starter Troubles

Post by **CarlD** » 03 Mar 2007 07:46 pm

I posted a while back regarding problems with my other half's (petavius) 340 1.7 (http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... sc&start=0. At the same time we were also having a coolant problem.

Due to work and other issues i was pleased that i finally had a weekend that i could devote to the volvo as it a has been stood for a couple of months and the arrival of a new radiator early in the week. So off i went this morning to move the car to a suitable working ground and as i guessed flat battery. I got the jump leads out and to my joy a couple of minutes later the car fired...

... then ran for a few seconds and died. I tried to start it a couple of more times and the starter had a resounding click then nothing. Then fifth or sixth attempt i heard the starter whir without engaging the cog then just back to the big click.

I've tried to see if the starter is jammed by a couple of taps with a hammer and rocking the car back and forth in third gear, but nothing. Then on to the jump start as the rocking didn't seem to be moving much. So with Gem at the helm on a slippy car park we tried to jump start, or at least see if the starter was jammed. No luck, we tried in a variety of gears and the rear wheels were locking up as soon as the clutch was dumped. I followed this by trying to remove the starter but the location of both the car and the starter meant i had to give in.

I would like to try and get something sorted tomorrow and any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers
Carl the novice.

Post by **blackbox** » 04 Mar 2007 12:28 am

i had a flat battery the other day it just needed a good charge do you have a multimeter to check the voltage of the battery. Mine didnt want to run either

Post by **pettaw** » 04 Mar 2007 05:30 pm

Oh dear, that sounds like something has jammed. Its possible that the starter has got stuck halfway engaged and locked up the whole thing. If so, then removing the starter cleaning it and replacing it might cure the problem.

If not then it means something else has jammed solid. Try a big bar on the crank pulley nut and see if you can get the engine to turn over, but do it after you remove the starter.

Post by **CarlD** » 05 Mar 2007 05:05 pm

Oh well the weather and the fact last person i lent my spanners to only returened a half set scuppered me getting the starter off over the weekend. I hope to do it tonight and find a solution to the problem.

Post by **340GLT** » 06 Mar 2007 11:44 am

How do mate? The starter on those is a doddle to replace. I have a spare i could get to my grandads garage if its any help to you? Give me a bell later if you need it.
Starter is my bet!!
Adam

Post by **CarlD** » 06 Mar 2007 12:03 pm

Well i tried to get the starter off last night. but only got one bolt undone. Am i missing something here. Unfortunately i can't jack the car car up due to it's location and a very grumpy private car park owner. so i tried to undo the bolts from above and I'm finding access a nightmare. Seems like there is just not enough space to get a good purchase and the one bolt i did get undone took what felt like a mammoth effort.

cheers
Carl

Post by **340GLT** » 06 Mar 2007 04:37 pm

3/8 drive ratchet and a 17mm socket from memory and you should get at them from above, i hav edone enough starter changes over the last 3 weeks anyways!!! Give me a bell if you want mate!!
Adam

Post by **CarlD** » 06 Mar 2007 05:27 pm

Cheers Adam, I'm not going to be able to get back on to it until tomorrow night. But if you could pm me your mobile i would apprciate the advice if i get stuck.

Post by **CarlD** » 12 Mar 2007 01:17 pm

The Starter motor is now removed and seems fine, so unfortunately it seems the engine has seized. I've tried to turn the engine over with no spark plugs and no starter by using a spanner on the bottom cam pulley, but there is just no movement. So my learning curve for playing around with engines just got a load steeper. Does anyone have a methodical path of areas to go through or should i just start stripping the engine down.

Post by **shimon340** » 12 Mar 2007 03:35 pm

hello

Ive got a 1.4 doing almost the same thing at the moment. Im also due to remove the starter to see whats jamming. the car turned over a few times, then stalls and now wont start at all. Im hoping its simply the starter that has jammed since my engine did a few revolutions before stopping..

Im sure others will be along soon to advise but engine oil down the bores left to soak/drain should unseize it if it is the piston/cylinder which is seizing. Im following this with interest as I may be doing something similar myself over the next few weeks

good luck!!

Post by **trabitom99** » 12 Mar 2007 07:11 pm

CarlD, you also mentioned you were having a coolant problem. It wasn't overheating by any chance was it? A cracked cylinder liner can be enough to prevent the starter motor from turning the engine ...

Post by **pettaw** » 12 Mar 2007 07:59 pm

Oops, seems something very very bad has happened to the insides of this engine.

Erm depends on how much of a chance you wanna take on this one and also where its seized. If its just the rings or pistons seized into the bores then you might be able to get away with pouring some diesel into the bores and letting it sit for a week, then turning with a wrench on the crank pulley. Once you get the car started then you need to change the oil to remove the diesel.

If its something at the bottom end then you'll need to strip the thing down and see what's happened. I wonder if the cambelt could have gone and the thing is jamming on some valves.

Anybody got any other ideas?

Post by **foggyjames** » 13 Mar 2007 02:03 am

It does sound rather like we have a seized engine situation. Blame the French!

Diesel down the plug-holes is a good idea. If that frees it up, make sure you get Grandad (Rupert) to look into the spark plug holes for you when you first turn it over

. If the standard diesel treatment doesn't work, (very) hot diesel/oil is a good call - although that tends to be more a head-off job.

I suspect there are plenty of B172K lurking which have been removed from drift-mobiles, if all else fails.

If the car needs to be moved from Grumpy's car park, let me know - I've got to head down your way in the not-too-distant future, and I'm equipped with 240-power for movement of smaller Volvos.

cheers

James

Post by **CarlD** » 13 Mar 2007 12:43 pm

My plan for the next couple of days is to try and find a place to move the car too. Basically i'm calling anyone i can find to see if i can rent a garage or a shed for a while. But around ludlow that can be a bit of a nightmare.

Post by **pettaw** » 13 Mar 2007 09:29 pm

Yeah diesel down the plugs is the cure for bore seizing Foggy (didn't know about the hot diesel bit but sounds like fun

), but what about if its seized on a main or big end?