Starting Problem

[222s]

To start with, when turning the key, there's nothing at all. Then the starter slowly turns as though the battery is almost flat & after a few seconds of very slow turning, the engine catches, almost miraculously if that makes sense! I can only assume that the ignition system is very good but then until now it's always started easily.

Once running, all the electrics are fine & the charge / amp light is off as it should be. The battery is only about 4 years old, and the lights are all bright (even main beam) when the engine isn't running. Also, I've tried jump starting it to see if that would make any difference - which it didn't

Could it still be the battery? I'm going to clean the terminals to see if that helps (a long shot though). Next check is the starter earth strap......

BTW, if it's not the battery / wiring, could the solenoid be at fault, or is the starter itself a more likely culprit?

Help!!!!!

[Stuart Read]

Hi

It sounds like the earth strap to me - attached from the opposite side of the block to the starter motor, to the chassis.

You can eliminate the battery by checking the voltage with a voltmeter.

Hope this helps. . .

Stuart

[Stanleywindrush]

This would make a lot of sense - sometimes if they have rotted/ the bolt where they attach to the chassis has rotted out - the engine will earth itself through any other way it can - and not very successfully.

I have heard of this happening through the speedo cable - which made it very hot and eventually melted!!

Clean the attachment clasps on the battery, check the battery earth to the bulk head - then jump under the drivers side of the car for the engine earth strap.

It may be worth checking the positive off take from the battery is attached tightly to the starter solenoid, as these can work loose, especially if you have had the positive lead on, then off the battery terminal in the past etc...

Earth the engine with jump cables if this helps to help the process of elimination.

Fitting a new starter is easy - two bolts, and I guess if all this doesn't work you can pick up second hand one cheap enough and bolt it on to eliminate this as well..

Good luck

Baz

[222s]

Thanks guys

I've checked all the connection and all seems ok. Also tried using a jump cable to earth the engine, but that didn't make any difference

I've been advised elsewhere that the battery could be on the way out (ie not supplying enough amps any more, rather than not holding charge), so I hope to get that tested later.

Fingers crossed!

[wellshj]

Another test is to bypass the ignition switch circuit by replacing the green control wire (spade connector under the live leads bolted onto the solenoid) with a direct connection to the positive terminal of the battery and seeing if that works better. Use as thick a wire as you have and only flash it to test as the wire won't be able to cope and could melt/catch fire. If it works like this then there could be a problem with the ignition switch wiring. (Thanks to Andy R for this one)

I cured a starting problem last week with a replacement earthing strap, almost undetectable nicks along the side had reduced its capability enough to prevent the starter working consistently.

Good Luck

[meta_volante]

Hi 222s, just thought you would find it interesting to read of a similar problem I had last week with my S60, heres my thread:

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=20507

regards

meta

[222s]

Thanks again all!

It does indeed look as if the battery is the culprit - according to the digital tester, it has a bad cell & only 10.2 volts. A new one is on order (everything in Halfords that is the right ampage has the terminals the wrong way round for the leads ) so hope to know for sure tomorrow.

Oh, and just as I was leaving, I bumped into wellshj !!! Good to see you again

[222s]

It was indeed the battery - just fitted a new one and all is now how it should be.



Thanks to all for the advice etc - I've learned quite bit from this. What threw me initially was that I'm used to the symptoms of batteries not holding charge and therefore going flat, rather than when there's a bad cell (as confirmed by the digital battery tester) causing a drop in the battery power.