froggy8 Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 hi guys i have an astra mk4 1.6 16v 2001 model and i have no idea where the fuse is for my starter motor. does anyone know please? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smeghead28 Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 Just have a look through your fuses and see if one is blown. There is no fuse directly for the start motor,the starter motor is operated by the starter solenoid. Sometimes these can fail. Do you hear any noise when you try to start the car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
froggy8 Posted May 22, 2015 Author Share Posted May 22, 2015 no noise at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz! Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 Do you have lights come on with ignition (battery, oil, hand brake, etc.)? How bright are they? Could be a flat battery, not necessary left anything switched on but could be a power drain somewhere..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
froggy8 Posted May 22, 2015 Author Share Posted May 22, 2015 battery is fully charged, the garage told me it could either be the starter motor or fuse, i just want to try the easy option first and that is the fuse or solenoid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smeghead28 Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 So there is no clicking noise at all? Chances are the solenoid is not engaging,if that is the case it wont be pulling the starter motor into position to operate it. If you can see the starter motor try tapping the solenoid on top of it with a hammer to see if it is stuck,not whilst trying the ignition at the same time though! Could also be a loose connection to the solenoid itself. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starter_solenoid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
froggy8 Posted May 22, 2015 Author Share Posted May 22, 2015 when i try start it, the headlight dims out if that helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz! Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 battery is fully charged, the garage told me it could either be the starter motor or fuse, i just want to try the easy option first and that is the fuse or solenoid Don't take everything a garage says to be 100%...... The battery is the easiest place to start too as it powers the starter motor chap I asked if the dashboard lights were bright or not having headlamps on and them dimming is a good sign power is going from battery to starter though, check all earth straps too, one from body to engine and battery to body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
froggy8 Posted May 22, 2015 Author Share Posted May 22, 2015 cheers mate will jack it up and have a good look tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shudson Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 (edited) You should hear solenoid clicking as you turn key. Headlghts dimming gives you three possibilities (it is not a fuse):- !. Flat or defective battery 2. poor connection/earth. This can only be either battery connections (or adjacent bus-bar if it has one) (check and regrease - temporary measure tap with a hammer) or earth strap to body, otherwise headlights would not be affected. That they are dimming suggests power is getting to motor. 3. Jammed or defective starter motor. Try putting car in gear and rocking it. Otherwise, I suspect you will have take starter motor off and check it. Edited May 22, 2015 by Shudson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
froggy8 Posted May 22, 2015 Author Share Posted May 22, 2015 sorry shudson, im not doubting you or anything but what benefits do i get out of rocking the car while in gear? just trying to understand is all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
froggy8 Posted May 22, 2015 Author Share Posted May 22, 2015 Don't take everything a garage says to be 100%...... The battery is the easiest place to start too as it powers the starter motor chap I asked if the dashboard lights were bright or not having headlamps on and them dimming is a good sign power is going from battery to starter though, check all earth straps too, one from body to engine and battery to body. what do you mean earth straps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shudson Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 Last resort. If starter pinion is jammed in mesh. Not sure what starter system the Astra uses, but there is a system where the starter pinion is not in mesh, but as starter motor revs up pinion is forced into mesh. Means motor is not called on to do any work until it has started to turn over, rather than from stalled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shudson Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 Earth straps are the heavy wires connecting the various components to the body of the car to provide a low resistance return to battery - usually -ve these days. Often un-insulated and of mesh construction, but can be insulated and quite thick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
froggy8 Posted May 22, 2015 Author Share Posted May 22, 2015 right this is what i have just done now, i used my jack lead and connected the earth from the battery to the engine and tried starting and still not worked then i put the car in 2nd gear and let handbrake off and pushed it forward and backward then tried starting it and still not worked. tomorrow i will jack it up and hit the starter motor with a hammer to see if it unstick then try starting it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
froggy8 Posted May 23, 2015 Author Share Posted May 23, 2015 just an update, when i try start the car, the headlights does not dim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Governor 204 Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 What ure describing is classic starter motor fault! Don't forget it could be original/14 year old starter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
froggy8 Posted May 23, 2015 Author Share Posted May 23, 2015 been goolgling around and it seems there is no power going to the starter motor though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b19jas Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 you need to get underneath ( unless you can reach from the top ) to the small wire on the starter motor. USually either a blade terminal or 8mm nut and see if it has feel. A simple circuit tester or even a bulb on a wire on the small terminal and see if it lights when the key is turned to start. If you have feed then it has to be the starter no feed then fuse or ignition switch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
froggy8 Posted May 23, 2015 Author Share Posted May 23, 2015 could you tell me where the switch and fuse are please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
froggy8 Posted May 23, 2015 Author Share Posted May 23, 2015 i have been at this all day, going through few forums, looking on top and bottom of car. still cant find the starter motor or the fuse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
froggy8 Posted May 23, 2015 Author Share Posted May 23, 2015 (edited) i just remembered that i have this and if i can find the starter box then id be able find out if power is going through Edited May 23, 2015 by froggy8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trans4Mation Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 Foggy the starter is above drive shaft on left as you look up from under car , common fault on them is bushes go you can refeb it yourself if it is that that's at fault on yours but double check the spade has not jumped off the starter 1st some have spade an main cable from battery it's also looped to the alternator to charge in the loom. You had water issues aswell didn't you ? You sure it's not head gasket an not hydro locked the engine ? Silly things can happen I've seen some cars not even start or just cut out in the past due to header tanks running low but it was a 1800 ford . Is ur astra td or petrol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
froggy8 Posted May 23, 2015 Author Share Posted May 23, 2015 (edited) it was condensation in the oil and think it was airlock in the coolant. i will check the starter motor tomorrow, is the starter above the left wheel? cheers mate Edited May 23, 2015 by froggy8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trans4Mation Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 (edited) Ok bud least that's that out the way, no not above wheel that's the gearbox end plate on some Vaux models that's the way you slide the centre gearbox spline out to remove clutch rather than dropping gearbox out , ..... regards starter as I say if cars up in the air as you are under it look with a tourch to the left inner cv gaiter it's just above that . Think it's 2x 13mm bolts but some are spline or torque bits just depends what's on yours. Just remove battery lead to before you undo it though from starter , I'm sure there's a YouTube vid floating about of a full how to remove an rebuild the starter been few years but should be still on there , is yours mk 4 or 5 Edited May 23, 2015 by Trans4Mation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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