starter problem..right?

[a. griffin]

Stock 29 phaeton has developed a quirk of sorts.
When trying to start the car, pushing the starter button results only in a bump of the starter. After three or four tries, the engine will turn over and start.
I've checked that the battery is in good shape.
Is this simple fix or am I looking at a big ordeal?

 

[Patrick L.]

Have you removed and cleaned the battery connections, both ends of each cable including ground ?

If they are good, then problem is probably the switch. Thats easily removed and checked.

 

[RandyinUtah]

This should not be a big ordeal.As mentioned remove the starter switch and clean the contacts on both the switch and the brass button on the starter.

 

[Jeff/Illinois]

Yes good idea to keep them clean as regular maintainance.

Once I had one stick 'on' the contacts 'welded' themselves together, arced out. Starter wouldn't quit very scary I was able to yank the cable off REAL fast but it happens so quickly it can cause real damage. Before I had a fuse installed

 

[H. L. Chauvin]

Sounds like:

a. A starter switch problem ..... or worn starter problem.

b. If starter switch is new ...... lots of problems reported with new starter switches ..... also, old worn malfunctioning starter switches can also be a problem.

c. If worn starter problem, usually an easy fix to rebuild a starter.

 

[a. griffin]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I'll be jumping into the repair this weekend.

 

[jw hash]

another thing do you have a screw in type battery disconnect. they will loose a good connection. one of our club members had the same problem for months, he changed the starters and battery and it was the disconnect the whole time. lesson learned

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

another thing do you have a screw in type battery disconnect. they will loose a good connection. one of our club members had the same problem for months, he changed the starters and battery and it was the disconnect the whole time. lesson learned

Yep, the same thing happened to a guy in our club. He had me rebuild the starter, but then found out it was a problem with his screw-in battery disconnect.

 

[smittykid]

Yep, the same thing happened to a guy in our club. He had me rebuild the starter, but then found out it was a problem with his screw-in battery disconnect.

Tom,
What are you referring to in regard to a "screw-in" battery disconnect? Is that the one that mounts on the battery terminal and has the green shut off knob?

 

[100IH]

Yes on the green knob. Take it apart and clean up the contacts.

 

[Jim/GA]

Ashley, I've been wanting to see your car. Let's get together soon and I will help you figure out what's going on with the starter.

 

[Bruce Adams]

I have heard that some repop screws on the starter switch are too long and can touch the armature. It would be easy to unscrew each of them a few turns as a Hail Mary Play.

 

[Tinker]

you know.. I was going to suggest a ring gear. But if you don't have to push/move the vehicle to get it to engage it is probably something electrical or in the starter.

 

[fredski]

I would use another battery with jumper cables and connect directly to starter to see if starter was good or faulty.

Fredski