Right, if anyone can shed any light on this I'd be amused.

2 months ago, Fakes starter pegged out, the solanoid would kick, but no movement, from memory it was open circuit, i.e. the dash lights didn't dim and the voltage gauge didn't drop. So, went to LSUK, bought a new motor, for £80. Wasn't that impressed but I needed the thing pronto.

Last few days, the things taken a few secs to engage, i.e. turn key, clunk, count to 2, starter then turns. That improved last night to not starting on the first key click, but second time it did, so drove to pub. Likely it was a motor club pub trip, cos I needed to be bounced out, couldn't even here a solanoid clicking. Got home, first time solanoid clicked, nothing else. Then second time, starter worked.

Now reason I'm asking is I've had issues with the multiplug on the fusebox (inside side) giving dodgy connections to the front lights. I know the starter lil wire (solanoid trigger) is on the same plug, but this can't surely be the problem as sometimes the solanoid clunks but nothing else happens?!?! I had that multiplug off yesterday anyway to ultrasolve the h*ll out of it so my lights didn't keep going out on country lanes... so those are nice and clean now.

Anyone ever had a 2month starter motor? And anyone ever returned things to LSUK?

i might be pointing out the obvious here so forgive me!

have you checked the big (red?) wire to the starter ie the high current one straight from the battery?

the first attempt at starting should warm the contacts up enough (ie wen you here the solenoid clicking) then second attempt it they should be warm enough/expanded enough to get enough juice through to crank round

cheers - ben

Was the starter brand new or a rebuilt one? on our works van we have had problems with it destroying rebuilt starters. It will engage sometimes but others you have to get the hammer out. It sounds like a faulty starter to me although when you try to take it back chances are they will say its the car. I have got a couple of starters somewhere, although might to horrendous postage though!!!!

I killed 4 rebuilt starters in justs over 12 months. I ended up fitted a good s/h unit and that has lasted well so far. If buying new I would only bother with a volvo one.

It's a lucas one, so I'm guessing it's a rebuild, even though it looked new

What's so off p*ssing is the £10 400 one I pulled from the scrappy lasted 18months, and this one £80 for 2 months.

Ben, I've checked the big wire, just not the little one yet. Hopefully tomorrow.

I remember last time I was back home noticing the starter on my turbo is a 300 one, i.e. the big one, so I might just borrow that for a bit, though for the ferry costs, could be a scrappy trip as cheaply. Same for postage I think Fume, though thanks for the offer, it is appriciated.

I may have been a silly Chris... Andy asked if I'd looked at the earths, and it dawned that it's the side that Fake is throwing out oil...

Low and behold... and very caked up terminal on the block from the earth strap. I've wiped, emeried, wd40'd and ultrasolved it (I was in a belt and braces mood) and the motor seems to be a damn site quicker. I had noticed it was though I had a flat battery on a few occasions, even though the voltmeter read 12V with no engine.

I'm not sure it's cured it, but I'll give it a week of testing!