Starting issue, turn key, relay clicks but starter motor doesnt engage

[youngstig]

Hi guys,

Ive had this intermittent fault for a while now, sometimes when i turn the ignition on nothing happens, all i get is a relay click from under the glovebox but the starter motor doesnt come to life. for a few days it will be fine and then i get a couple of days where it does this every time.

With a bit of persistance and turning the key back and forth numerous times it starts apart from today where ive had to leave the car at work after trying for around 15 mins.

Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this? its driving me insane now.

Cheers,

Keiran

 

[ed55j]

Starter motor solenoid sticking, get your wheel brace and give it a whack, should free it. Time for a new starter motor.

 

[youngstig]

Where is it located? My car is a 1.6 ph2 just for reference

 

[BPY]

Spade connector to starter motor. Clean connection.

 

[mikeh]

What BPY said - that seems to be the most common issue.

It can be hard to reach - I used to find a few wiggles of the corrugated trunking that runs down the back of the block was sufficient to get it started.

Eventually, I ended up replacing the connector when changing the starter.