Nearly lost the G last night NOW WITH PICS
Going about my normal Monday night business yesterday (which involves going out then staying somewhere to do something for a bit, then coming back) I was alerted to a problem by on of my friends. As we had been loading up the cars, he said the G sounded like it was trying to start. I thought this might be a bit odd as I had the keys in my pocket.
Anyhoo, the column of smoke coming out of the engine bay soo pointed to something else, casting health and safety aside, I popped the bonnet to find the battery was sizzling and the terminals were smoking. The starter solenoid was trying to engage and had drained the battery and cooked the wiring.
After a bit of shuffling things about, it behaved and as it was running I decided to make a break for home. About 2 miles down the road there was a horrendous grinding noise which was most likely to be the alternator as the lights got dimmer and dimmer as I got nearer home. I've only had a couple of times recently when it seems to not want to start but turning the ignition off then on has cured it. The wiring has not been modified with the exception of 2 roof mounted lamps (relay and fused) and a radio (fused).
I guess really my question is are the ignition switches problematic? I'm sure a duff alternator wouldn't have made the car try to start and I just haven't had the heart to investigate it as I've had a hellish 10 days with other stuff.
There has been a lot of water about and I have been driving through it, not fast and no more than a foot deep.
Any suggestion welcome.
Thanks
Phil
Ummm Phil
I have noticed that ( as he looks furtively around ) the Galaxy starter motor has "whirred" after me attempting to start the vehicle and despite me taking the key out of the ignition has continued to "whir"
Hitting the starter with a rock or other solid object has worked on the three or four occassions it has occurrured to date :roll:
I would say your problems are starter motor related, the horrible grinding noise was probably the pinion against the flywheel? and if the starter motor was attempting to turn and drawing current the lights may have been affected, this I am guessing at.
Cheers
m
Hi Phil like Marcus says looks like a starter problem ---solenoid full of water would short out the two poles and leave the starter gear meshing with the starter ring on the flywheel....good place to start anyway ......
We Phil
In common with my "fleet"
My mate Clive would say
"Too long young"
Will haul it to work tomorrow or something and get dis-assembling. Full report and pics to follow when I get stuck in. Situation is so desperate that I've had to tax the Rover! Brakes have packed up on the Victor, brother has nicked the Disco and the Monza is far from being on the road......
Never for one minute thought I'd run out of vehicles but it's getting close!