Battery/starter motor problem

[Jakey90]

Bit of a noob here so apologies if I'm in the wrong place!

My 53 plate 2.0 TDi 140 is having some starting issues. Somedays it will start first time every time, sometimes (most) it takes 5-10 seconds of ticking over to start and sometimes it doesn't ever start!

I had the same problem a few months ago, read a couple things and got the starter motor out, bench tested it, cleaned it, put it back in and it seemed to have helped a little but still struggled to start.

Now I'm having the same problems, if not a little worse.

I can get into the car, key in, ignition on and all the dials etc are fully illuminated, go to turn the key and the battery does nothing but you can hear a fair bit on clicking (starter motor?), the doors lock/unlock and the time/mpg trip resets itself.

Car won't jump start or bump start no matter how big the other vehicle/amount of people pushing etc.

Had the battery off a couple times to charge so I'm guessing this is my problem? New battery?


I was just wondering if anybody else has had similar problems and it being something worse than the battery.


I've also got the dreaded 'A' head which is prone to cracking and does use a bit of coolant..

Thanks in advance

Jakey.

 

[mike foster]

I'm afraid to say, from your description, that it sounds like coolant is getting into the cylinder bores which is a sign of a porous head. Do you have white smoke from the exhaust and is the underside of the oil filler cap a sort of milky emulsion ?

If you can't jump start, does the starter motor turn properly or does it still 'click' ? If it still clicks then it sounds like the earth connection between starter motor and engine. Make sure there is a clean, tight connection at both ends.

 

[Jakey90]

Get a little bit of smoke but that's generally dark when I first start up or give it a lead foot. No mayo or over heating!

That sounds good about the battery if it is a bad earth. I'll see if I can get close to it tomorrow as it's going dark.

Anything else to look for?

Thanks.

 

[Geraldy212]

Jakey, suggest you try another (known-good) battery. Or have your current battery load-tested at a garage. Just charging it may not show up a bad cell or two. You comments re the coolant loss are worrying. Your engine should not lose any coolant at all, as it is a closed system. Look for radiator leaks, very common with this model, water stains around pipes and clamps. Most cooling systems will not leak until up to max temperature 90 deg C, so have it up on a ramp with the lower engine cover off to see any drips. Good luck mate.

 

[mike foster]

Get a little bit of smoke but that's generally dark when I first start up or give it a lead foot. No mayo or over heating!

That sounds good about the battery if it is a bad earth. I'll see if I can get close to it tomorrow as it's going dark.

Anything else to look for?

Thanks.

One thing at a time mate - need to work through logically.

Do I assume that it just 'clicks' even when trying to jump start ?

 

[Jakey90]

Yeah, all dash lights come on, turn the key, tries to start ever so slightly then just clicks.