Forum:
My 1991 approx Feroza EL-II 4WD F300 with HD 1589cc engine has suddenly developed a starting problem, Basically the starter motor tries to turn over the engine very slowly. I have checked battery and connecting cables. It seems I will now have to check the solenoid and starter motor itself - which is a difficult component to access!! Any other suggestions as to what I should check?
Cheers, Robert
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Starting problem
We've just experienced the same.
After checking the battery (your local motorfactor will do this free) and finding all ok I took the starter off and took it to a local reconditioner who confirmed a fault with the solenoid. He replaced with a new part for approx £35.
On refitting, found ok but still a problem on occasion starting.
This time it appears its the wiring between the ignition and starter, which I plan to fix this weekend.
The motor is easier than it looks to remove,and this is how I done it (although you should seek help if you've not done this kind of thing before):
disconnect the battery, undo and disconnect the cable from the battery (on the motor) with a 13mm spanner I think, pull off the clip attaching the cable from the ignition, carefully jack up and place on stand, access (with a little difficulty) the bottom 14mm bolt, then back to the top (use a step) reach down behind the engine to the top 14mm bolt and undo, (there's a cable eyelet that is earthed at this bolt so make sure you reconnect it on refitting) then withdraw the motor, taking care not to damage any pipework etc.
To check that it's the starter and not the cable from the ignition, the way I checked was to pull off the clip from the ignition on the motor (the small black and white cable) and clip a length of cable to this point, make sure the car is in neutral and turn on the ignition, then touch the other end of the cable on the battery live terminal, if it starts (try several times) its a wiring fault, if it still clicks then its the motor.
Hope this helps, but I must stress again, only try things like this if you have an idea and are confident to do so, there are good auto elecs around that can sort these things out fairly cheaply.
Neil.
Feroza Starting Problems
Hi Neil
Thanks very much for your advice. I will try things out as you suggest and let you know the result.
I have an unusual difficulty - I am living in Bangladesh at the moment and reliable mechanics are rather thin on the ground !! Also parts (eg solenoid, if required) are impossible to get so I will have to somehow get from my home country (New Zealand) when I next go there...
Regards, Robert
Starting Problems
I too have a starting problem on my Sportrak (Feroza), but mine is only when the engine is hot, it seems to over advance and locks the engine up like a flat battery we used to get the same thing on ford escorts mk3 way back when we used to change the distributor and that fixed it. i have retarded the ignition timing and this helps a little, can anyone throw any light on this matter, thanks.
Brian.
Starting Problems
...if it's really old, try changing the condenser. i had similar problems on an old renault (YUK!!). strted first time every time, when cold. run for a while, wouldn't start again.
rammy