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Hi
can anybody help with this drama on my mk2 Jaguar.
pulled out starter on an auto mk2 1962 had it rewound. Fitted back in connected wire and seems not enough power getting to starter.
replaced battery. Leads. Solenoid. And still not enough power when engine cranks at starter.
aaagh what next.
many ideas.
thanks Stephen
Sounds like the rebuilder did not know what he was doing and has the wrong number of windings on the coils. Try a stout lead like a decent jump start cable direct to the starter from the battery & check your earth strap to the body from the battery & jumper straps from body that bypasses the engine mountings from body to block. Brushes should be new & commutator smooth & shiney. Insulators between commutator sections should NOT be undercut like a generator.
If the starter still shows low torque take it back to the rebuilders. You can fit fancy new starter motors that will spin the motor faster etc but you should not have to. They are just a nice to have. A proper original Jaguar starter motor should do the job just fine. I'm using a refurbished original starter motor & she fires up at first push of the button.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Jul 27, 2022 at 05:45 AM.
As Glyn has stated you should not need a fancy new high torque starter motor as the old ones sufficed for many years but a couple of years a go I had a similar problem. Slow turn over which eventually started the engine but as I was using my 3.4s as a wedding car I could not trust the old starter when the engine was hot. I had the old starter rebuilt with new bushes and bearings but decided to go for the high torque starter in the end. Smaller lighter and cannot be seen so does not alter the original look of the engine bay. The new high torque starter spins the engine over as if I had forgotten to fit the plugs. Highly recommended adaption.
Below is a picture of the old starter motor for my 3.4s auto and below a new high torque for an auto and below that one for the manual engine.
Yes Rob. The new high torque starter motors are nice to have and I might still fit one. I just wanted to put my car in the concours once to have it rated but Covid buggered that up. I don't know when we will have another concours. Because I want to fit my nice smaller Italian woodrim steering wheel & other non standard items that I happen to like. All will be done in a way that I can revert to standard if need be.
I'll bet the OP will find that either the rebuilders messed up or he has an earth strap problem.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Jul 27, 2022 at 11:46 AM.
Glyn I know you want to keep Concours for now but truthfully when the starter motor is fitted it is impossible to see it from above because of the carbs and pipe work unless you stick your head right down the back by the battery, squeezed under the bonnet whilst having a strong torch shining down into that area from the front of the engine under the carbs. But I know what you mean.
Thanks guys for your input on my starter issue. While it’s still in place I will test ever electrical wire related and if all that is good the starter is coming out. The rewinding shop said it bench tested fine so maybe a hassle returning.
a chap has a second hand motor with the positive bolt on the back snapped off. Can these be replaced easily.
Do all the proper checks & especially your earth/ground points & power direct from battery to motor.
I would not worry too much about their bench testing ~ if its the motor take it back. There are bench tests & there are bench tests. Who knows if they loaded it properly. Anyone can make a motor spin without a load.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Jul 27, 2022 at 07:06 PM.
Stephen
The correct bench test for a starter motor involves a "stalled torque" measurement.
I used to do these tests on aircraft starter motors.
By the sound of it your rebuilt starter motor would fail that sort of test.
If the business which did your starter overhaul cannot demonstrate that sort of test then ask for your money back.
Remember Australian consumer law requires any repairs done to be "fit for purpose".
Never a High torq starter for me, on my XK140 Auto, the front bearing broke after 2 month of use.
No warranty anymore, as I bought it 2 years before, during restauration of the car.
Went back to the original starter, never a problem any more. Front bearing broke
Never a High torq starter for me, on my XK140 Auto, the front bearing broke after 2 month of use.
No warranty anymore, as I bought it 2 years before, during restauration of the car.
Went back to the original starter, never a problem any more.
This could just be a one off or a bad manufacturer. I have run my high torque starter for four years now. I use the car twice maybe three times a week for weddings, car shows and going to the golf club. At a wedding I must use the starter ten to twenty times during the course of the day stopping and starting between locations. Never had a problem. If you have had a problem then name and shame the manufactures of your high torque starter don't club all manufacturers in to the same category of not good. I bought mine from a company called Powerlite. https://www.powerlite-units.com/starters/rac301.html Super company who sorted out a problem I had when they accidently sent me a starter for a manual not an automatic. Four year and going strong. I would recommend them all day long.
Wise advice Rob. A lot of members of our club have fitted the new high torque units instead of rebuilding the original as prices are reasonable when offset against rebuild cost. I know of no one that has seen a failure or we would know about it. Members are quick to complain to all who will listen.
Might have been a cheap Chinese rip off. I'm not criticising the Chinese. In China they are capable of very good quality but want it cheap & they will make it cheap (and nasty). No one complains about their Chinese built iPhone or Sony Camera or TV. Caterpillar parts made in China by their Asiatrak Division are up to global standard and Cat is one fussy company to deal with. Get their yellow slightly off shade & they will reject the batch. Donaldson builds 80% of their airfilter parts, casings, filters & snorkels right here in Cape Town. They are the same with metal wear parts of buckets etc.. Asiatrak does heavy parts like buckets & teeth.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Jul 31, 2022 at 05:57 AM.
Well thanks for all the replies and advice.
took starter out and back to workshop.
found the problem. It was a short in the armature.
replaced in car and working like a new one.
Never trust Rebuilders to get Starter motors & Generators right. Many foul up. They shouldn't but they do. Bet they did not even test that motor. A short in the armature is a major oversight.
That would have failed your "stalled torque" measurement Bill.
Pleased you are sorted.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Aug 31, 2022 at 08:47 AM.
Starter motor troubleshooting
