Starter motor intermittent

[kelsham]

Hi lavishing care on Jezebel (1986 cabriolet) has been rewarded in the usual fashion.
Having fitted new fuel injection hose to the injectors, changed the oil and filter, and then spent time trying to buy new seals to stop Yvonne being soaked when I pulled away after leaving the car standing in the rain
Jezebel would deposit a considerable amount of rainwater in her lap. No wonder she is suspicious of traveling in her.

Finally spent money on seals from Seals direct, and made up replacements.

Well the Beaulieu Autojumble is coming up and I decided to raid the savings and use Jezebel to travel there later this week.

After I had cleaned and polished her, the thanks was a refusal to turn the engine over.

Must be the starter relay? or the ignition switch? Triumph of hope over experience here.
Investigation showed that they were fine, Jacked the car up, placed on axle stands lay on my back and peered up into the gloom. There was a cover obstructing the connections. Struggled with the cover and finally removed it.

Still couldnt see much pulled on the wires to see if they were loose. No movement.
Went indoors for a cup of tea and a moan. When I returned I idly tried the key she fired up. Tried her again over the next few hours. Always starts.

I suspect sticky solenoid, I know from past experience that it will fail again. This happened to my Pre-He. car.

Any suggestions where I can buy a reliable recon starter motor?

I wish it was a manual at least it would then bump start.

Regards Kels.

Ps reliable old Landcrab is being pressed into service for the journey.

[kelsham]

Well, I am back and looks like I have been sent to Coventry.
No replies.
The latest on the starter motor front is that before crawling from beneath the car I tied a piece of string to the wires that operate the starter and passed the string up into the engine bay.
Upon my return I decided to try the starter, immediate start made. I reversed out of the garage so as to back in and work in better light. Yvonne came out of the house and offered a cup of tea. Switched car off.

When I tried to restart just clicking from the starter relay. Without much hope I pulled on the string. She started???
Further starts show that when she stops responding pulling on the string effects a cure.
Will report on further events. Is anyone actually reading these posts?

Regards Kels.

[iain1980]

It has been viewed enough that I think if anyone did know a reliable supply, they would have posted.

My experience with recon starter motors is that it is a bit of a lottery, some go on for years where as others from the same supplier hardly make it out of warranty.

As you probably know the solenoid contacts are either loose, or burnt, or the solenoid itself is weak. All are a consequence of age and heat, and it will have gotten to the motor aswell.
Repalcement is the only cure. As access is not brilliant I would by new as doing it twice would be a waste. You might want to check the wiring/connections too.....

[Brakebuster]

any and all work associated with the starter motor and or ignition system demands the disconnection of the battery prior to starting.

i have seen a man killed by not doing so

BB

[kelsham]

Went under Jezebel today,Battery disconnected plus substantial axle stands and jack.
When the starter fails pulling on the piece of string, (I may patent the mod,) causes enough vibration to start the motor.

Due to curiousity I dismantled the old motor from my previous xjs which had failed with the same syptoms.
I removed the solenoid and dismantled it on the bench. After unsoldering the leads from the casing it came apart.
It is interesting that the bar that makes contact when you operate the solenoid, has raised pips on one side of the connections. On this particular solenoid they had burned away with use.

Seems reasonable to assume that the same is the case with Jezebels starter motor.
I suppose the next step is removing the steering rack and dropping the exhaust
I am beginning to agree with the wife, pretty unusual in itself.