306 won't start

Stretch

Stretch

Stretch

Soldato
Joined
14 Feb 2004
Posts
14,316
Location
Peoples Republic of Histonia, Cambridge
I have a 306 DT and it's had a few problems starting recently, especially after heavy rain. When I turn the ignition key it just make a single click noise and the engine doesn't turn over at all. I can normally solve this problem by just opening and closing the bonnet (don't ask), but this morning it's having none of it. I know next to nothing about cars, can anyone help. It's a long walk to work :(
 
Could be anything, afterall it is a French car :p

Something is wet thath shouldn't be by the sounds of things though. I'd say the starter is probably packed up due to wetness, not sure how you could drench it though to be honest.

If it's clicking that means that the solonoid is putting the signal to the starter and it isn't doing anything after that, hence starter motor.

Closing the bonnet again can jog the motor and unstock it, which can help, but you need a new one. For this morning, try hitting the starter with a hammer to free if up...and keep the hammer in the car for the way home :p

InvG
 
Hit it with a hammer you say, I can do that :) Is the starter motor the big gray thing with a belt attached to it?
 
Nope, that bit is the alternator, you don't want to batter that.

The starter will be down behind the engine.
 
How hard should it hit it? I've tried giving it a go and it doesn't seem to make any difference.
 
Stretch said:
How hard should it hit it? I've tried giving it a go and it doesn't seem to make any difference.
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You sure you hit the starter? :p

A fairly hefty whack should sort it. I had to drive for a couple of days with a hammer in my footwell incase mine played up before I could get a new motor...as the motor factors told me I had to bring the old one in to get the new one...handy when I need the darn thing to get to them :p

InvG
 
Maybe the battery is flat?

I get this on my 306 all the time, the alternators duffed so if the cars not used for a day or a light is left on then the battery will be dead and this is the noise that i get when i try to start.

Try charging the battery.
 
If the battery was flat, then the solenoid click, you'd just get nothing.

Go down to a local scrapyard, and ask someone there to get a starter motor off a 306TD, or a 405TD, they're a straight swap.

I'm sure a local garage would fit it for you for a few beer tokens :)
 
Yay, got it started. The hammer trick didn't work but I managed to start it by putting it in second gear and rocking the car backwards and forwards whilst turning the ignition key.

Just for the record I think I was hitting the alternator for about 10 minutes, before I realised which one was the starter motor :o :D

Thanks guys
 
tried cleaning the starter conections? my 306 did the same just cleaned them and retightened the ones that had worked loose et viola :D
 
Perywinkle said:
tried cleaning the starter conections? my 306 did the same just cleaned them and retightened the ones that had worked loose et viola :D
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Just don't do the 10mm nut on the starter like I did...creating a short between that power connection and another, the car tried starting it'self and sacred the poop out of me. :p

InvG
 
Stretch said:
Yay, got it started. The hammer trick didn't work but I managed to start it by putting it in second gear and rocking the car backwards and forwards whilst turning the ignition key.

Just for the record I think I was hitting the alternator for about 10 minutes, before I realised which one was the starter motor :o :D

Thanks guys
Click to expand...

That would also suggest something amiss with the starter motor. Its worth checking your battery voltage and charge state too though.
 
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