tayrus
28-03-2007, 07:15 PM
Hope someone can help on this one.
1991 Golf 1.3 very basic model. Petrol I must add (and LPG)
I have an intermittent starting problem whereby when I sometimes return to the car, irrespective of weather conditions when I turn the ignition key I simply get a faint whirring from the starter, but not any actual turning as such. Whirring/or whizzing is the about the best description I can give.
The car is not used on a daily basis, and often it only involves about 1 mile journey, almost as a glorified shopping cart.
I have changed the battery, so can only assume that to be up to scratch. Also the previous belt on the alternator had so few teeth remaining and was so loose wasn't a big surprise that it screetched, so replaced that and seems fractionally squeaky(might be the alt pulley) but fairly sure its giving charge back to the battery and is tight as best I can calculate to required tension(incidentally I bought the belt, as recommended by the mechanics book, and it is 'toothed' but the pulleys on the crank and alternator are smooth, is this normal?)
I feel that perhaps the lack of giving the car a good run might be reducing the battery charge over time (1 mile then off - then 1 mile back home and off again for a couple or so days), and usually if I give the battery a charge for a very very short time it will turn the starter successfully.
But whirring? without just turning slowly?
The lights on the ignition come on ok when this problem occurs, and the lights and horn seem ok. Could it be the battery is just not giving enough out, and has become semi discharged and not providing enough power to turn the starter.
Is a whirring starter a sign of a dying starter?
The car was owned by a mechanic previously, who obviously had less knowledge about servicing than me, so I have no reason to believe that anything on this car has ever been changed in the 3 years he had it, and it is 16 years old.
I live in Bulgaria and needed to buy and runner, so with the language barrier here, it would great to hear any suggestions.
1991 Golf 1.3 very basic model. Petrol I must add (and LPG)
I have an intermittent starting problem whereby when I sometimes return to the car, irrespective of weather conditions when I turn the ignition key I simply get a faint whirring from the starter, but not any actual turning as such. Whirring/or whizzing is the about the best description I can give.
The car is not used on a daily basis, and often it only involves about 1 mile journey, almost as a glorified shopping cart.
I have changed the battery, so can only assume that to be up to scratch. Also the previous belt on the alternator had so few teeth remaining and was so loose wasn't a big surprise that it screetched, so replaced that and seems fractionally squeaky(might be the alt pulley) but fairly sure its giving charge back to the battery and is tight as best I can calculate to required tension(incidentally I bought the belt, as recommended by the mechanics book, and it is 'toothed' but the pulleys on the crank and alternator are smooth, is this normal?)
I feel that perhaps the lack of giving the car a good run might be reducing the battery charge over time (1 mile then off - then 1 mile back home and off again for a couple or so days), and usually if I give the battery a charge for a very very short time it will turn the starter successfully.
But whirring? without just turning slowly?
The lights on the ignition come on ok when this problem occurs, and the lights and horn seem ok. Could it be the battery is just not giving enough out, and has become semi discharged and not providing enough power to turn the starter.
Is a whirring starter a sign of a dying starter?
The car was owned by a mechanic previously, who obviously had less knowledge about servicing than me, so I have no reason to believe that anything on this car has ever been changed in the 3 years he had it, and it is 16 years old.
I live in Bulgaria and needed to buy and runner, so with the language barrier here, it would great to hear any suggestions.