Any motor mechanics on OUT?

cliveTue 20/11/07 15:42

I have had a minor problem with my 11 year old Jeep for quite a few months. If I leave home, when the engine is cold, and drive a few hundred yards to the local filling station, or into town (now about two miles away because of the new one-way system) and stop at the bank or post office en route somewhere further, *occasionally* when I go to restart the car a few minutes after stopping, the ignition is absolutely dead.

All of the other electrics work, but there is no life at all when I turn the ignition. Usually if I wait a few minutes the engine will start and be back to normal. Last week though, as I was on my way to meet an OUTer for the first time, I had to wait almost 25 minutes before I could restart it.

The strange things is that I've never had a problem after that initial short journey from home, and it has never done it when starting from cold anywhere else (although I'm rarely anywhere else overnight with that car).

The local garage which always repairs my cars is stumped too, although they are saying that there is no power going to the starter motor. But why would it be such an intermittent problem, that happens only when cold?

I would add that the car always starts first time normally.

Any suggestions?

cephidTue 20/11/07 15:59

Do you hear any clicking when you switch on the ignition, but the motor doesn't turn? My thoughts there are a dodgy starter motor, maybe worn brushes.

cliveTue 20/11/07 16:01

quoting > "Do you hear any clicking when you switch on the ignition, but the motor doesn't turn? My thoughts there are a dodgy starter motor, maybe worn brushes."

Nope it's totally dead, as if there was no life in the battery... which is new (well a few months old now).

finalfrontier1976Tue 20/11/07 16:01

Hmm, if it happens when cold it could be damp on the plugs etc, have you tried spraying the spark plus and the alternator with WD40 and leaving that do it's job for a few minutes.

cliveTue 20/11/07 16:06

quoting > "Hmm, if it happens when cold it could be damp on the plugs etc, have you tried spraying the spark plus and the alternator with WD40 and leaving that do it's job for a few minutes."

The garage apparently have, but the problem has existed since early spring or thereabouts. It has probably done it maybe 10 or 12 times in total, including during the warmish dryish weather of summer.

cephidTue 20/11/07 16:08

Sticky relay?

cliveTue 20/11/07 16:15

quoting > "Sticky relay?"

Sounds feasible.

finalfrontier1976Tue 20/11/07 16:17

How's the alternator arm looking and the leads?

cliveTue 20/11/07 16:20

quoting > "How's the alternator arm looking and the leads?"

Wouldn't that mean getting my hands dirty? I pay mechanics to do that sort of thing.

;-)

Seriously, the car is still at the garage, and I really don't know what I'm doing under the bonnet. I assume they will be checking basic stuff like that.

i am wondering if the reason they haven't sorted it is because they haven't properly looked at it yet. I sort of got that impression when I called earlier - the car's only been with them since mid morning on Thursday!

finalfrontier1976Tue 20/11/07 16:24

quoting > "Wouldn't that mean getting my hands dirty? "

I'm afraid so yes. When I had my old car, I had to replace the leads, rotary arm, distributor cap the works. I was quite impressed with myself. Ok I have a bit of a cheat as my dad is a mechanic but I never took any interest so was quite chuffed when I turned the key and it worked.

cliveTue 20/11/07 16:28

When I had my second car, an *old* M reg Mini, I fitted reversing lights, and hazard warning lights, all by myself. I was so proud of my achievement.