starter motor

[benny3008]

I have taken the starter motor off my rover 214 and put it back on again after checking it by hand. it turned fine and moved in and out fine (as in the action of the solenoid). i have put it back in and now when i go to start the car, i can hear the starter motor turning but not engaging with the engine, i think i may have got some of the connections wrong but I'm just wondering, is it possible for the starter motor not to be able to engage because of the way it was put back in or is it self engaging (as in, it will turn and press towards the engine until it slots into place and in turn, turning the engine over?) i know it's a bit of a long shot but just wondering if anyone can shed some light on this before i jump to conclusions and say the solenoid is broken.

[NazNomad]

Have you swapped the + and - connections so it's spinning 'backwards' ?

[benny3008]

i dont think so. :-/ i took off one spade connector, the earth wire which was attached to the body of the solenoid/starter and one wire attached by a small bolt to the back of the solenoid, they are the only wires i took off and as far as i can see, they have all gone back on the same way. :-/ but solenoid is not engaging, it was before i took it off.

[AlBags]

It's the solenoid Benny .. like I said before.
You can test solenoid AND motor off the car with some jump leads.

[AlBags]

Just find another starter. Costs a lot less than overhauling a current one.

[benny3008]

i thought it might be the solenoid, but it was working before i took the the whole thing off but not after i put it back on, i'm convinced it's the cables connected up wrong. i have tried to test it with jump leads and battery but nothing happened, i think the battery was dead. :-/ lol

[society]

Benny, I hope you are not planning on using this vehicle to do your road test. :-)

[albaqwerty]

Benny, get a new starter motor :)

[AlBags]

Take two jump leads and have starter sitting on garage floor.
Connect Negative battery with one lead to the body/flange of starter.
Connect other lead first to the main starter terminal and then connect to battery positive terminal (Nothing should happen)
Trap a small length of cable at battery positive terminal and (whilst holding down starter with your foot) touch this positive cable to the small solenoid (start trigger) terminal.
If working well, starter should kick in with a jolt and spin freely.
This means the solenoid works .. but does not test the power of the motor .. or the brushes condition. Only a specialist can check this.

[AlBags]

If you follow those instructions .. and nothing happens when you touch small terminal .. solenoid has failed.
If you touch terminal, and solenoid throws out but motor does not spin .. motor or brushes have failed.
Either of above .. replace starter (it's easiest and cheapest)