Go Back   The 75 and ZT Owners Club Forums > The 75 and ZT Owners Club Forums > Technical Help Forum
Register FAQ Image Gallery Members List Calendar Mark Forums Read
Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 26th October 2019, 15:30   #1
roverbeast75
Avid contributor
 
rover 75

Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: ekeren
Posts: 106
Thanks: 2
Thanked 19 Times in 13 Posts
Default Starter or battery?

Since last week there’s been a delay when i turn the key & the car actually cranks. I turn it , nothing happens for 3 seconds and then it starts and drives fine. Last week this happened 3 times , today it has happened multiple times & the battery light flickers but then also disappears. I also get a low battery sign but that also dissapears, this means that the battery dips below 11v but then goes back up.

Ive been searching and some people say its the battery others say its the starter, has anyone else have this experience?
roverbeast75 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th October 2019, 15:45   #2
vitesse
I really should get out more.......
 
Rover 75 Saloon

Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Gävle
Posts: 2,515
Thanks: 395
Thanked 823 Times in 652 Posts
Default

Try cleaning the spade terminal on the starter and see if it improves.

Regards
vitesse is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th October 2019, 16:51   #3
trebor
This is my second home
 
trebor's Avatar
 
Rover 75 CDTi Connoisseur SE & MG ZT Saloon 190

Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Coven
Posts: 12,516
Thanks: 526
Thanked 1,877 Times in 885 Posts
Default

For my money thats the starter getting worse until eventually it wont start at all, you can always test your battery with a meter when it is running.

You can buy the repair kit for the diesel starter quite cheaply no need for a new starter
__________________
www.midlandsnanomeets.co.uk

Robs Car Gallery

Coven near Wolverhampton WV9

2000 Cowley Built Rover 75 2.0 V6 Club SE/ Atlantic Blue/ Sandstone/Walnut (daily driver)
2003 Land Rover Freelander 1 TD4 HSE Helsinki Blue/Black Leather (swmbo daily driver)
trebor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th October 2019, 18:07   #4
SD1too
Doesn't do things by halves
 
SD1too's Avatar
 
Rover 75 2.5 Connoisseur Auto (1999) Dealer launch model.

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Former Middlesex
Posts: 20,265
Thanks: 1,587
Thanked 3,749 Times in 3,181 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by roverbeast75 View Post
... some people say its the battery others say its the starter, has anyone else have this experience?
Yes Jay, I've had a similar experience; intermittent operation of the starter motor. It was worn contacts on the starter solenoid; cheap and easy to repair.

However, just to be sure, I recommend that you first attach a smart charger to your battery and leave it connected for at least 24 hours, preferably longer. Diesel engines are hard on batteries.

Simon
__________________
"Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble."
Sir Henry Royce.
SD1too is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th October 2019, 18:58   #5
roverbeast75
Avid contributor
 
rover 75

Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: ekeren
Posts: 106
Thanks: 2
Thanked 19 Times in 13 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by SD1too View Post
Yes Jay, I've had a similar experience; intermittent operation of the starter motor. It was worn contacts on the starter solenoid; cheap and easy to repair.

However, just to be sure, I recommend that you first attach a smart charger to your battery and leave it connected for at least 24 hours, preferably longer. Diesel engines are hard on batteries.

Simon
Update: i have been driving the car multiple times today and if I leave it parked for a few hours it will start but very weakly, you can hear the engine struggling to start as if theres no power but once it starts it drives fine as it should
roverbeast75 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th October 2019, 21:45   #6
SD1too
Doesn't do things by halves
 
SD1too's Avatar
 
Rover 75 2.5 Connoisseur Auto (1999) Dealer launch model.

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Former Middlesex
Posts: 20,265
Thanks: 1,587
Thanked 3,749 Times in 3,181 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by roverbeast75 View Post
... it will start but very weakly, you can hear the engine struggling to start as if theres no power but once it starts it drives fine as it should
Thanks for the update Jay. That doesn't sound like a starter motor failure, more like a diesel engine problem and I'm sure that specific advice on that will be offered very quickly.

Simon
__________________
"Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble."
Sir Henry Royce.
SD1too is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th October 2019, 23:40   #7
Arctic
Give to Learn
 
Arctic's Avatar
 
Freelander 2

Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 18,651
Thanks: 1,155
Thanked 6,407 Times in 3,874 Posts
Default

Quote:
Quote:
Originally Posted by roverbeast75 View Post
Update: i have been driving the car multiple times today and if I leave it parked for a few hours it will start but very weakly, you can hear the engine struggling to start as if theres no power but once it starts it drives fine as it should
Hi Jay.
Purchase your self a set of these below, spend a nice hour removing the starter and fit them & trouble will be over

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MG-ZT-2-0...1/251755645921

I did once have a nice how to but PB ruined it

https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...d.php?t=227316
__________________
Arctic
Givology Learn to Give
Everything is Achievable

ad altiora tendo.

Check out our Nano meet dates
http://www.midlandsnanomeets.co.uk/

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/index.php?thepage=howto

" You do the work , we supply the expertise "

Last edited by Arctic; 26th October 2019 at 23:42..
Arctic is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27th October 2019, 15:01   #8
roverbeast75
Avid contributor
 
rover 75

Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: ekeren
Posts: 106
Thanks: 2
Thanked 19 Times in 13 Posts
Default

update: It's most likely the starter motor contacts. I have ordered the repair kit

I checked the battery voltage just to be sure and it is also slowly on its way out, I think. However, I am very certain this isn't something new for my battery.

The voltage before starting the car is only 8.9v, when it starts it drops down to 6v and then it goes back up to 12 - 12.6v. So the alternator is doing its job, however I think i'll need a new battery when winter returns. However I am still certain that the problem here is the starter motor because when I turn the key there's a flew clicks and then the car starts & drives fine.
roverbeast75 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27th October 2019, 16:01   #9
COLVERT
This is my second home
 
R75 Saloon.

Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: France/or Devon.
Posts: 14,003
Thanks: 3,851
Thanked 2,167 Times in 1,816 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by roverbeast75 View Post
update: It's most likely the starter motor contacts. I have ordered the repair kit

I checked the battery voltage just to be sure and it is also slowly on its way out, I think. However, I am very certain this isn't something new for my battery.

The voltage before starting the car is only 8.9v, when it starts it drops down to 6v and then it goes back up to 12 - 12.6v. So the alternator is doing its job, however I think i'll need a new battery when winter returns. However I am still certain that the problem here is the starter motor because when I turn the key there's a flew clicks and then the car starts & drives fine.
The terminals on your battery are corroded.----

Those voltages bouncing up and down tell you this.

It probably hasn't been charging properly either.

The car goes well with the engine running because it's running off the alternator.---


Go for the cheap option before spending your hard earned cash.---
COLVERT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27th October 2019, 16:12   #10
grivas
I really should get out more.......
 
grivas's Avatar
 
Rover 75 CDT Club Tourer

Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Milky Way
Posts: 2,367
Thanks: 105
Thanked 513 Times in 382 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by roverbeast75 View Post
update: It's most likely the starter motor contacts. I have ordered the repair kit

I checked the battery voltage just to be sure and it is also slowly on its way out, I think. However, I am very certain this isn't something new for my battery.

The voltage before starting the car is only 8.9v, when it starts it drops down to 6v and then it goes back up to 12 - 12.6v. So the alternator is doing its job, however I think i'll need a new battery when winter returns. However I am still certain that the problem here is the starter motor because when I turn the key there's a flew clicks and then the car starts & drives fine.
A low voltage such as this, would normally mean the battery is in fact dead and would not start the diesel engine, not in a month of Sundays, not ever, the fact that your car starts, and the voltage fluctuates up and down means the battery terminals are not making good contact and you are not reading the correct voltages.
Disconnect and clean with a fine wire brush charge the battery fully, reconnect and cover posts with thin layer of petroleum jelly. See what happens now.
grivas is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 14:22.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright © 2006-2023, The Rover 75 & MG ZT Owners Club Ltd