9 replies to this topic

[samsfern]

bit of an odd problem, the starter motor keeps sticking on, like when its starting the engine, it started doing it wednesday night when i went to start it, done it again last night when i went to start it, then after itd been switched off for 2 hours, i could hear it randomly trying to start itself again from my bedroom window? Done it again this morning, i went into a shop, came out and its jumping itself down the road on the starter motor, as i always leave old cars in gear, so its beginning to be quite a dangerous problem now. It also randomly starts turning when im driving along. But the only way to stop it turning is to flick the battery cutoff to off then on again. I can take the keys out the ignition when it does it, and makes no difference, other than cutting the ignition off.

So, what could be causing it? I was thinking ignition switch? Thanks.

Edited by samsfern, 08 January 2011 - 09:38 AM.

[Davethepioneer]

Ive never heard of this before, so I will be following this to see what answers come up. I can only suggest that its the ignition switch sending power to the soloniod and or its shorting out somewhere. Or it could be a simple case of Anthropomorphism!

Is your mini called Christine by any chance lol

[Stevee]

sam that is quite a funny problem must been funny seeing your car driving its self

what type start motor you got? pre ingaged or interier?

[Wil_h]

Pretty sure it'll be the starter relay, usually located on the off-side inner wing near the tower bolt.

Seen it plenty of times. Halfords will sell a replacement.

[samsfern]

sam that is quite a funny problem must been funny seeing your car driving its self

what type start motor you got? pre ingaged or interier?

it is quite funny, just lucky it didnt bump into anything imagine explaining that to the insurance "the car was drove itself into the other vehicle, no one was in my vehicle at the time "

its the starter motor that has the solenoid bolted to it. Ill try changing the said relay as well, got a spare kicking around somewhere.

[sschewie]

sam that is quite a funny problem must been funny seeing your car driving its self

what type start motor you got? pre ingaged or interier?

it is quite funny, just lucky it didnt bump into anything imagine explaining that to the insurance "the car was drove itself into the other vehicle, no one was in my vehicle at the time "

its the starter motor that has the solenoid bolted to it. Ill try changing the said relay as well, got a spare kicking around somewhere.

I've had this problem when starting a mini (letting go of the key and the starter is still running) As the starting system is very simple, it can only be a few things. I would start with the starter solenoid, then the ignition switch. If both of those don't cure it, there must be a short between the ingition switch and the motor.

You might want to leave it out of gear until it's sorted though! don't want to run anyone over.

[Carlzilla]

im with wil, my money is on the relay.

a mate of mines did something similar, we had his loom out to repair it, kept the relay on the loom, put the loom back in after repair and whenever you put the earth back on the battery it'd start cranking over :S
first thing we took out was the relay and replaced it. Cured the problem. Relays are funny things... :S

[Stevee]

sam that is quite a funny problem must been funny seeing your car driving its self

what type start motor you got? pre ingaged or interier?

it is quite funny, just lucky it didnt bump into anything imagine explaining that to the insurance "the car was drove itself into the other vehicle, no one was in my vehicle at the time "

its the starter motor that has the solenoid bolted to it. Ill try changing the said relay as well, got a spare kicking around somewhere.

Pre Enaged type then could be the solinod sticking on just do a start swop with a spare if not its the relay

and yeah would take some expalining my old escort use to unlock its doors and then play the radio full blast randomly :S never got to the bottom of that its not been crushed

[samsfern]

Pretty sure it'll be the starter relay, usually located on the off-side inner wing near the tower bolt.

Seen it plenty of times. Halfords will sell a replacement.

well, just took the old relay off and took it apart, full of gunk and water, so changed the relay, luckily we had one in stock at work, seems to have solved it many thanks.

[Ethel]

Might be a bit OTT but you could fit 2 relays in series, though a battery isolator would do more.

If your pre-engaged starter is slow to disengage, the solenoid, and its mechanism, probably needs stripping and cleaning