i went out to start my car this morning bearing in mind its a cold cold frosty morning tried to turn the key but engine wouldnt crank i have ignition lights etc but it pauses for like 3-5 seconds b4 it will crank it has never done this b4 any ideas as to whether it needs a battery?

if it is turning over then it may just be a sticky starter motor,but if its hardly turning at all chances are its the battery

Get something like a jack bar, give the starter motor a tap & get someone else to turn the key

Get something like a jack bar, give the starter motor a tap & get someone else to turn the key

where abouts is the starter motor on the 1.8 si? is it clearly visable? im sure the guy i brought it off said he replaced the starter last year.it does crank but it pauses for like a few seconds before it will crank? i drove it like a mile turned it off then tried again and it started str8 away

Some are on the back of the block & some are on the front, depends on model, think yours is on the back

Some are on the back of the block & some are on the front, depends on model, think yours is on the back

so if its on the back u wont be able to get to it on the floor?

Some are on the back of the block & some are on the front, depends on model, think yours is on the back

so if its on the back u wont be able to get to it on the floor?

hello all ive decided its got to be the starter motor this issue ive found one on ebay but its off a rear mounted 1.8 ghia would this fit my 1.8 16v si (also rear mounted)? also what is the procedure to fitting these and taking them off with out a ramp thanks alot its just ive had a brief look and its tucked well away at the back of the engine looks a nightmare.

Some are on the back of the block & some are on the front, depends on model, think yours is on the back

so if its on the back u wont be able to get to it on the floor?

hello all ive decided its got to be the starter motor this issue ive found one on ebay but its off a rear mounted 1.8 ghia would this fit my 1.8 16v si (also rear mounted)? also what is the procedure to fitting these and taking them off with out a ramp thanks alot its just ive had a brief look and its tucked well away at the back of the engine looks a nightmare.

anybody?

dont be to hasty about changing it fella.........Ive had a few escorts over the years and Ive found that ford starters just dont get on to well with frosty wether, you tend to get all kinds of symptoms in the cold that just never show outside the frost season... last one I had that did it I used to allow the car to edge forward off my drive in a very slight roll then just give the starter a flick in gear(not bump starting just literally a sudden flick to the starters shaft would engange btw), once the starter had been slightly turned by the flywheel and I had stopped the cars roll(usually little more than a foot in movement) the starter would operate perfectly...allmost like it was frozen until cracked loose

Are you sure it's definetly the Starter Motor? I've never had any problems with the Starter Motor and cold weather, and I live in Scotland.

 

Check what voltage you have in the battery before you go buying new parts. If your really sure that it is the Starter, give the solenoid a tap with something (i.e. not a massive Claw Hammer!).

 

Then decide what the fault is.

Are you sure it's definetly the Starter Motor? I've never had any problems with the Starter Motor and cold weather, and I live in Scotland.

 

Check what voltage you have in the battery before you go buying new parts. If your really sure that it is the Starter, give the solenoid a tap with something (i.e. not a massive Claw Hammer!).

 

Then decide what the fault is.

not being funny what else can it be wiggly the key dont make a difference so it aint the switch

you can do it on the ground but you need to jack it up as high as poss with support stands of coarse disconnect the batt first as well ,starter is just under inlet manifold ,if I remember right its 2 bolts from the top and one from underneath and disconect power terminals too on starter ,its a tight squeeze but around a 15 min job out on the street

 

 

I have had a few starters go its pot luck thats all

Edited December 12, 200717 yr by 1pukkadeal

dont be to hasty about changing it fella.........Ive had a few escorts over the years and Ive found that ford starters just dont get on to well with frosty wether, you tend to get all kinds of symptoms in the cold that just never show outside the frost season... last one I had that did it I used to allow the car to edge forward off my drive in a very slight roll then just give the starter a flick in gear(not bump starting just literally a sudden flick to the starters shaft would engange btw), once the starter had been slightly turned by the flywheel and I had stopped the cars roll(usually little more than a foot in movement) the starter would operate perfectly...allmost like it was frozen until cracked loose

 

Correct! i had this problem last winter and the solution is easy.

 

a)put up with the 3 second delay and save ur effort and money

b)change it at cost to urself

 

personally i'd wait until it fails to start completely, then the solution is

 

a)roll the car in gear with the clutch down then release the clutch to give the starter a shunt to free it up

b)whack the starter with a long metal object such as a ratchet handle once or twice and it will start

c)replace at cost to urself

dont be to hasty about changing it fella.........Ive had a few escorts over the years and Ive found that ford starters just dont get on to well with frosty wether, you tend to get all kinds of symptoms in the cold that just never show outside the frost season... last one I had that did it I used to allow the car to edge forward off my drive in a very slight roll then just give the starter a flick in gear(not bump starting just literally a sudden flick to the starters shaft would engange btw), once the starter had been slightly turned by the flywheel and I had stopped the cars roll(usually little more than a foot in movement) the starter would operate perfectly...allmost like it was frozen until cracked loose

 

Correct! i had this problem last winter and the solution is easy.

 

a)put up with the 3 second delay and save ur effort and money

b)change it at cost to urself

 

personally i'd wait until it fails to start completely, then the solution is

 

a)roll the car in gear with the clutch down then release the clutch to give the starter a shunt to free it up

b)whack the starter with a long metal object such as a ratchet handle once or twice and it will start

c)replace at cost to urself

cheers weird thing is it only does it when its cold for example i drove it to work this morning took ages to get it to start but once driven around for a while it will start back up,i got the battery checked today and been told its knackered its meant to be 480 cca but its only giving out a mere 160 cca they said that the alternators fine aswell and the cranking voltage was only 9 volts but they said this was due to the battery being hammered .could it be possible to be a battery issue not having enough to crank the starter efficiently?

only one way to find out mate as the battery is easier to fit than a starter