Jump to content

98 r50 Starter problems (includes mini Starter Replacement Guide w/ Pics)


UpUp_Away
 Share

Recommended Posts

One morning before work, the ol' Qx wouldn't start. The battery was fine (load tested), the car just wouldn't crank. So I hit the starter and solenoid with a hammer which got it going again, I used this opportunity to drive up race ramps for what would inevitably be a day spent under the car. I changed the starter to a Bosch 100% new starter (which includes a new solenoid) afterwhich I drove around the whole weekend with 0 problems. Fast track to today morning, 5 days after replacing the starter, the same problem occurred. Tried to start car, and 0 cranks. This leads me to believe it may have not been the starter or solenoids fault and my original diagnosis was wrong (I'm going to bring the old starter to a car parts store to get it tested).

Any thoughts on what other problems it may be that is causing the motor to not crank when I try to start it?

Full Guide coming soon with future edit.

1. Drive up ramps.
2. Locate Starter underneath passenger footwell side attached to transmission, crawl further than you normally would for an oil change, behind the control arm.
3. Use 14mm long socket (extension may be needed here) to remove top bolt. Note: Some force may be needed, so gloves and a bigger socket drive handle is best.
4. Use a 14mm closed end wrench to remove bottom bolt. Note: Because the metal lines are in the way, a socket will not work nor will you be able to completely remove bolt, so just unscrew the bolt all the way and leave it there.
5. At this point, the starter will become loose, unclip the connector. Unscrew the nut.
6. Pull out starter from transmission and maneuver the starter out of the area.
7. Reverse instructions for installation (FSM recommends 35-42 Ft-lb for the two bolts)

Edited by UpUp_Away
Link to comment
Share on other sites

That happened to me once. Turned out I had a loose battery cable.

 

The battery checks out fine, and all the other electronics works (audio, windows, lights, etc).

 

For now, it may be three other things

 

1. Starter Relay (whatever that is, I need to look into it)

 

2. Ignition switch broken (although, it wouldn't explain why the car started originally after I hit the old starter with a hammer, and also the 5 days of problem free starting before the problem popped up again)

 

3. Transmission lock (apparently I need to try starting it in Neutral, which again, would not explain how I temporarily fixed it.)

 

I really doubt it is one of those things, so if anybody else has an idea, that would be great!

Edited by UpUp_Away
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Odd, I tried to start it again just for fun, and it starts right up again. This is most confusing because I can drive it now, but I dare not for fear it may strand me somewhere until I figure out the original problem.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So this morning, it happened again. Since we eliminated the starter/solenoid/battery causes, I proceeded down to the following remaining solutions.

 

1. ignition key broken: I tried jiggling it and the steering wheel as I tried to start the car. I turned the key with some force. No avail.

 

2. I pressed on the brake, put the key in ACC, moved the transmission to neutral, and it started right up when I turned the key!

 

So my issue seems to be related to the transmission lock, and the temporary solution would be to move the lever to N before starting.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, it sounds like neutral worked once. It's been intermittent, so nothing proven yet.

 

But I will keep my fingers crossed.

 

Btw, do you have the factory security system?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 years later...

So - I just posted this on Facebook group for R50 enthusiasts in Australia:

 

Brains trust... I recently had a cyclops central locking / immobiliser / alarm installed... usually works great .. but from time to time since then ( I’m not convinced yet it’s due to this install) my hear a click .. no start. Checked out battery .. it needed replacement so I did ... still from time to time click no start ... was sure it was starter motor so yep swapped it out ... still from time to time click no start. Arghhh wound driver’s window down popped the bonnet tried a start .. nope but this thingy was the thing going click..
when it won’t start I don’t know why .. when it suddenly decides to start I don’t know why ie can’t pin it down. Pics are of the thing that’s clicking .. solenoid it would appear.. anyone else had experience with this ?
Link to comment
Share on other sites

In a similar situation, it did turn out to be the starter in my case.  The old one initially would not start intermittently, then died altogether.  Fortunately, I anticipated and already had a replacement starter in the car expecting to change it on the weekend but had to change it in a parking lot instead. It sure is a tight fit to get the old one out and new one in.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...