Starter Motor?

[lankeela]

The past couple of mornings when starting my transit there has been nothing there when I first turn the key, as though the battery was flat. Turn it a couple more times and there is a clattering sound and it kicks into life. Does this sound like the starter motor is on its way out? Once the van is warmed up it doesn't do it.

[Zeuhl]

Could be.
Or even just a loose connection to the starter motor.

[Answerprancer]

Sounds like a dodgy solenoid to me, that or there is a deposit of particles stopping the armature from rotating. If it seizes up completely (despite a fully charged battery) the tried and tested method is a sharp whack to the starter motor with a hammer. When you get it properly fixed, please bear in mind that they should give you something back on the old starter motor.

[lankeela]

Thanks, taking it in tomorrow to be checked.

[TWR]

Check the Earth wire

[lankeela]

Last winter I replaced both large batteries and all the glow plugs due to terrible trouble starting in cold weather, but in the cold it still struggles to start, so I wonder if this is more to do with the starter/solenoid and if replacing them will cure the problem.

[TWR]

The batteries you use are they Heavy Duty? is it 4>>6 Cylinder? did you service the Motor? From what you state I would have said Batterys, are the batterys the fill up type? are you giving the motor enough of a run to re-fill the batterys with charge? Fan Belt! is it tight? Alternator, is there a faint Ign Light on the dash indicating a problem, causing the battery not not to charge, You say "YOU" changed the batterys, did you make sure you cleaned the terminal, tighten the connecting wires, and made sure the Earth wires have a good, clean, body to earth from?

[stocksman]

Check the earth lead from chassis to engine block. I've had 2 vehicles, different makes, with that problem. They need to be really clean as the starter calls for a LOT of current.