Hehe, gotta love this car - been running it one month and already had a few issues with it. :punk:

 

Right, basically progressively over the last 2 weeks its been more and more reluctant to start.

 

The battery is fine, it was replaced a month ago and is still holding full charge.

 

The starter motor is bolted in dead tight and doesnt move.

 

When starting the starter motor can sometimes crunch a couple of times but usually just spins freely (whizzing sound)

 

When I try to start the guage lights do dim for a second as it should

 

Today I sat trying to start it numerous times (about 20) just letting it stop spinning before trying again and after about 20 shots it started up on the first spin. :huh:

 

so I'm at a complete loss as to what could be causing the problem - new starter time or could it be somethin else?

all cars have problems... must admit mine struck up first turn of the key today, not been started for about 3 weeks ;)

 

sounds to me that you may have a dicky starter, probably on its last legs.

could be PTU, when mine started going it would take ages to start up, then it started hesitating at junctions when pulling away, your in luck if it is that as they only cost about 30 quid and take about 1 minute to change over, althought that wouldnt explain the crunching sound??

 

best bet would be to try one thats working before you buy one if you know anybody locally with a 300.

There are several points here to check, firstly make sure the earth strap to the engine is intact and tight, otherwise the starter will be lazy or perhaps not work at all. Secondly make sure the starter solenoid is in good nick along with the starter. No matter how good the battery is if the starter and solenoid are mullered, it will not turn the engine over. It also sounds as though your starter ring on the flywheel or the dog on the starter is worn. Under these current freezing conditions, everything needs to be top notch.

all cars have problems... must admit mine struck up first turn of the key today, not been started for about 3 weeks ;)

 

 

 

 

Haha you know you've jinxed it now ;)

 

Yeah thanks for the info I've heard of PTU problems.. I'll try a new starter first - may aswell start cheap and go on from there I suppose.... but as for it taking a minute to swap over, its not the easiest place to get in to (the top bolt) without the car a mile off the ground. Oooh btw, as for jacking the car I've gone and made a lovely crease at the mounting point now using a hydraulic jack to raise it, do these cars like the s13/14's need to be raised from chassis rails or front/rear mounting points?

 

 

Hope that helps matey.

 

Andy

there is no jacking up to change over PTU, its bolted onto the cam covers on the left hand side of the engine bay under/besides the hard pipes, just unscrew, unplug and replace, i think the starter motor prob needs jacking and other stuff to replace, but i know nothing about that, too complicated.

 

good luck with it mate

To be fair, you bent it, therefore its just paying you back ;) These old girls have feelings and personalities!

My old zed did this, the starter was only engaging about every third turn.

Another starter from a breaker fixed it.

Its either starter or weak earth cable.

I'm guessing since its a jap and they recalled the 1g PTU that it may be running a 2g PTU.

 

I'll go for starter first!

 

In reply to Quavey, well if she didnt start causing me trouble I wouldn't have had to bend her .. stella artois for the win!

Its all in post 4 for you !

I'm guessing since its a jap and they recalled the 1g PTU that it may be running a 2g PTU.

 

I'll go for starter first!

 

In reply to Quavey, well if she didnt start causing me trouble I wouldn't have had to bend her .. stella artois for the win!

 

You can quickly tell which PTU you've got just by looking at it. The s1 PTU has alloy cooling fins on it, the s2 doesn't.

i thought the ptu recall was only in the us?