Help!! EL Fairmont not starting =(

malazn mafia · 08-03-2006, 10:21 PM

hello,
my EL fairmont has started acting up recently. The problem is that sometimes when i try to start the car, there is a "click" sound from under the bonnet (starter motor?), followed by silence. The car will then refuse to start on subsequent attempts. The click is accompanied by the normal whine of the fuel pump. Also, the battery voltage reads a healthy 13.5 to 14 while this happens (new battery installed in attempt to fix the problem). When i do get the car to start (it will start sometimes for no apparent reason), it will be pretty rough on first go.. but all seems okay on second or third go. I am pretty sure that the inhibitor switch is okay.. since tapping/rattling the gear selected while in park or neutral does not help. Are these the signs of a dying starter motor?(note: the when the car does start, it starts a little rough on first go, but starts like a champ on second or third go). Or could it be sumthing more complex?.. The car is an EL Fairmont 4 litre 6, with 207000 on the clock. Any one have any ideas or have any experience with this problem? any suggestions would be appreciated.

mark_TD · 08-03-2006, 10:26 PM

Sounds like starter motor mate

malazn mafia · 08-03-2006, 10:29 PM

thanx for the reply =) u reckon its the starter? hmmz.. how come when it does manage to start sumtimez.. it seems all good. anywayz.. any idea of how much a new starter motor's worth.. or whether its worth repairing/rebuilding the current 1.

FG8PSI · 08-03-2006, 10:29 PM

Hi

I had a ED with the same prob, ended up being the smartlock moulde also know as the B.E.M which is under the dash on the drivers side, mite need to get one a plug it in and see what happens. I used to hit it and the car would start but then it was totally stuff and i had to get a new one.

if its not that it could be the start motor is on its way out.

hope this helps

Nick

malazn mafia · 08-03-2006, 10:32 PM

have heard of the BEM module being an issue... however since there is a click coming from the starter motor or engine bay, i would assume that if smartlock/BEM mdoule were playing up.. the car would be imobilised and hence no power to the starter

niko · 08-03-2006, 10:33 PM

the armacha in the starter sounds like it may be a tad fried.

malazn mafia · 08-03-2006, 10:37 PM

hmmz... thanx for the reply. I think u'd be on the rite track with an armature on the starter motor, coz if the starter motor had a blown armature.. it wont move when it sits in a certain position.. hence the intermittent clicking problemz

malazn mafia · 08-03-2006, 10:38 PM

btw.. can starter mtr armature be fixed or need to get a new starter?

niko · 08-03-2006, 10:39 PM

just whack in another

malazn mafia · 08-03-2006, 10:43 PM

how much would i be lookin at for a new one?(short of funds from replacing other components: water pump, serpentine, thermostat, brake pads, battery :(.. )... and is it easy to replace?

jjj · 09-03-2006, 12:11 AM

If it makes a click from the engine bay, it is not the BEM module or the gear box switch. They both kill ignition voltage.

malazn mafia · 09-03-2006, 12:42 AM

thanx =)

old_mate · 09-03-2006, 12:47 AM

Im not familiar with the starter setup in these cars

does it have a seperate started solenoid? When you hear the click, does it happen when the key goes from acc to on? My car does this and its normal. Could also be a dodgy switch

malazn mafia · 09-03-2006, 01:32 AM

the click happens when changing from acc(position 2) to on(position 3)... but there is no crank. strangely the car seems to 'recover' (crank normally) after being left for a while or after multiple attempts (not good as battery appears to be draining from repeated attempts). Once car has 'recovered' car starts first go every time. Sometimes, the starter motor will ceases again for no reason >.< and i will be left with a click (solenoid?) on startup. Maybe starter jammed? btw.. where would the 'dodgy switch' you referred to be located? do u mean the starter relay? thanx for the feedbak

malazn mafia · 09-03-2006, 01:41 AM

um... dumb question, but is it possible to start an EL fairmont manually if the starter refuses to work (car is an auto)? e.g. push start.. I have heard that u can only push start a manual car. wondering if anything can be done to get the engine started without the starter motor in an emergency

XR Martin · 09-03-2006, 01:46 AM

No you cant start an auto without a starter motor.

havoc19 · 09-03-2006, 09:58 AM

hmmm i got the same probs on my ed everynow and then seems the smartlock anti theft ИИИИ on my futura has played up and if u hit the black box after failed start attempts it starts no problems could be that y not just take it to an auto electrian for a free check?

malazn mafia · 12-03-2006, 04:42 PM

*update... i exchanged the starter relay with another one and the car seems to crank every time now. However once in the parking lot of shopping centre.. car struggled to crank and the clock reset to 12AM! howeever on changing car to neutral car came bak to life but with great difficulty (bad alternator?).. anywayz car has started up nicely past the last 2 days.. will probly get sum1 to chek the alternator. thanx all for advice

old_mate · 12-03-2006, 05:05 PM

how new is the battery?

What kind of voltage are you getting across the battery terminals while cranking?

malazn mafia · 20-03-2006, 02:13 AM

*update... got the alternator rebuilt. Now starts no worries =). thanx all for advice

BOOSTDEF · 20-03-2006, 02:51 AM

bloody electrical problems... nothing worse.

Glad to see it all worked out.