About 3 months ago I when I started the car up it was making an absolute racket, the only way I can describe it is like it sounded like a noisy fan belt with a stone in it. It stayed like that for about 5 days then stopped and I never heard it again for a few weeks, over the last few months it's come and gone a few times until last week when I couldn't start the car at all. I've tried a new battery but still nothing, I turn the key but nothing happens apart from all the lights on the dash light up (Just to add it's an automatic). Without looking at the car I've had one friend say it sounds like the starter motor and another that says it's the fly wheel and it will be about £300 to fix. I was just wondering if anyone had an idea of what this could be or have come across this themselves?

Thank you

Darren

 

there are issues with the flywheel needing lubrication...but you could need a starter..at the bottom of the trans bell housing where it meets the engine there is a rubber cap or plug and you can remove it and apply some anti seize to the flywheel. youll have to turn the engine by hand tho.. or crank and then lube it then crank and then lube it again. make sure the lube gets on the teeth of the flywheel. too much lube and you will interfere with the crank sensor and it wont see the flywheel and then youll have starting issues... but im not there to hear the sound so its just a guess. if your hearing grinding sound could be the starter.

 

You should try and remove the starter motor and bench test it!. It sound like the bendix inside is broken or jamming. once out apply jumper cables to battery and positive side to pos. post on starter and negative to starter housing whiile holding stater tight the starter gear should jump out and spin at high rate of speed. if not the starter has open/short in windings which would have to be replaced anyways. if the gear doesnot jump out but just spinns the bendix is broken which means a new starter anyways! but mke sure when applying the pos. clamp you also are touching the solenoid post as well . as for the flywheel lube that was for a intermintant crank condition . when you would turn key the starter would start 1-2 sec and stop. if your hearing noises its mechanical either starter is hanning up on fly wheel or you have a frozen engine and starter is binding. so while the starter is out turn the crank shaft with a 27mm socket from front pully the engine should spin free .

 

Thanks Guys, I'll be looking at this next week. I thought I'd try and start it to see if anything different happened and now it does make a sound as I try and start it - I can hear it turning but nothing fires it into action.

 

I'm putting my money on a starter.
Of course, I've lost a lot of money in my life.
(not funny)

 

if your hearing the motor spin but engine not turning the starter bendix is broken like i stated earlier you need a starter . follow the steps i outlined

 

Thanks for your replies.

I've been away so not had chance to get this looked at until now, I've just had a quote of £130 for a new starter motor and £50 for fitting - I just wondered if you guys thought this was a fair price?

Cheers

Darren

 

I am sorry to hear this. Hopefully you can get it fixed soon.

 

so thats the issue .. the bendix engages and the gear pops out but does not spin... plus the starter gets warm if its on for only a few seconds... any way to repair this or do i need to go get a new one

 

try euro part if you have one i bought one for £90 and got a back street garage to fit it for £30