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Starter not engaging.



  182 Trophy
I've had issues with this before where the signal wire has come loose. Usually, a quick wiggle sorts it.

I had a friend have a quick look on his ramps last time it happened, it is looking like he's made an attempt to crimp it on to avoid it coming loose again, but no amount of wiggling this time appears to sort it.

Since it's happened, the voltages have been checked on the feed and the signal wire and seem to be ok, and we even tried 'jumping' from feed to the signal pin, to no avail.

There doesn't seem to be any indication of the starter solenoid activating.

A couple of questions - space looks tight, what's the best method to get to the starter motor and get it out? Can anyone who has done it give me a quick run through?

Secondly, how often does the actual solenoid fail? I'm wondering if the pin isn't just rusted up from it sparking/arcing with a loose connection.
 
  182/RS2/ Turbo/Mk1
If you dont have the heat shield they fail quite often, with one its less common but still happens.

Getting it off isnt a big drama, undo the manifold bolts so you can move it back far enough, and then it sort of wiggles out of the drivers side wheel arch, no need to move the driveshaft or anything.
 
  182/RS2/ Turbo/Mk1
Thanks Chip, I'm just waiting on a quote from Renparts for starter and heat shield.

When Ive had the solenoid fail, i just took it to a local specialist and got the solenoid changed, that way you end up with new for the bit that matters, normally about 25 quid IIRC
But not sure if you have someone equivalent near you (in fact not sure if I do anymore, have moved 200 miles away since!)
 
  182 Trophy
We have a local auto-electrical place that does stuff like alternator rewinds etc. I'll give them a go.

Edit: They do indeed do it. £25.
 
  182/RS2/ Turbo/Mk1
Cool stuff, thats what I would do then.

One thing to note is the angle and size of the terminals, sometimes the replacement solenoid arrives with a longer lug on it, and you risk it touching the main live feed, if so just trim it down a touch.
(will just turn over non stop otherwise!)
 
  330i. E30 Touring.
No need to remove the manifold nuts to get the starter out.

It's fiddly, but possible. And i hate the manifold nuts!
 
  182/RS2/ Turbo/Mk1
No need to remove the manifold nuts to get the starter out.

It's fiddly, but possible. And i hate the manifold nuts!

I just like bringing it back to give more clearance, I find it makes the job easier for the sake of a couple of mins whipping it off, on the 182 (like the OP has) they are easier to get off than the 172 though IME so can see why you might want to avoid doing so on the 172.
 
Had the same problem with mine. Its a refurb from about 6 months ago. Checked the exciter earlier wasnt really corroded and voltage was getting there fine. Added a temporary earth to rule that out so will see. Think its a new motor/solonoid required. 2nd hand ones are cheap on ebay. Its in a really horrible place to get to though. I think ill probably pay someone to fit it just on the basis that lying under ramps is no fun.
 
  182/RS2/ Turbo/Mk1
Had the same problem with mine. Its a refurb from about 6 months ago. Checked the exciter earlier wasnt really corroded and voltage was getting there fine. Added a temporary earth to rule that out so will see. Think its a new motor/solonoid required. 2nd hand ones are cheap on ebay. Its in a really horrible place to get to though. I think ill probably pay someone to fit it just on the basis that lying under ramps is no fun.

Ive always just done it on the floor with axle stands.
 
  182 Trophy
I just did it without even jacking the car up.

Probably took me an hour to get it out, that's with pulling the inlet and exhaust manifold off. Something sounds pretty rattly in it, so let's hope that's just something in the actuator.

Its taking all my will power not to pull it apart, but I'd rather not jeoprodise my £25 repair job!
 
  182/RS2/ Turbo/Mk1
Im too fat to get under there without a jack, lol.

Or did you take it out the top? (Ive always done downwards)
 
  182 Trophy
One thing I did notice was that the dephaser side of the rocker cover is covered in oil, as well as puddles of oil on top of the lower inlet. Can't see a source - thoughts?
 
  182 Trophy
I took it out the top. Autoelectrician reckons its the motor that is shagged.

Renparts it is, then.
 
  182 Trophy
I took it apart. Two of the brushes had just fallen apart, so it looks like it may have been a case of wear rather than heat.
 
  182 Trophy
New starter arrived with heatshield. Also got a new solenoid seal and plugs to do while its all off.

Got the starter on in about 20, plus about 30 minutes for the bolt on the gearbox side - an absolute pain in the ass.

At first glance, however, it doesn't seem entirely obvious which way the heatshield goes - I assume I just want the most area on top?
 


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