Page 1 of Bloody quest for vehicular independence

So the Rover goes in for its MOT on monady, needing a few jobs to get it fit to pass. Get the work done on tuesday (Front suspension and some work on the lights - that`s it. Car passes retest, so far so peachy.

Driving home from work yesterday, car feels chuggy as I pull away from standstill and in low gears.

Driving to work this morning, I stop at some temp traffic lights. As I pull away, the car splutters and stalls. It takes a good 30 seconds of turning over before it reluctantly splutters back to life. Get to work.

Get in car this evening to come home - nothing. 90 minute wait for the RAC to be told that the starter motor has burned out. He gets me moving so I can start the car and drive home, but that`s it.

Would the process of a car undergoing an MOT be enough to have caused this cluster**** of calamities? The engine was fine until I took it to be tested

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Quote:
Pete-MK says...
Would the process of a car undergoing an MOT be enough to have caused this cluster**** of calamities? The engine was fine until I took it to be testedCan`t see how.  But equally, can`t see how it`s got anything to do with the starter motor...
No symptom you have described - splutter, chuggy or stall are related to the starter motor.  Turning it over for 30 secs would have more effect on the battery than the starter motor.  They can get jammed occasionally but I`ve not heard of a burned out one to be honest - and certainly not one caused by anything to do with the MOT..  Was the petrol level particularly low?
Unless they`ve dislodged something when doing the work on the car?

Ste

This item was edited on Thursday, 22nd September 2011, 19:44

As SJ states, splutter chuggy and stalling are symptoms I`ve never heard of a starter motor going but instead usually fuel delivery or air intake/mixture.
If the Engine Management light had come on at the same time then it`s possible the ECU or other component caused a fuel choke stalling the engine.
It`s even slightly possible that it;s related to gearbox or clutch but that`s dependant on the definition of splutter and chuggy... I`d be more inclined to look at blocked injector or fuel line blockage somewhere.

However, dependant on the model the starter on a Rover *can* burn out as the solenoid engages in the "off"/driving position as if you`re driving but continues to take power, but you should have been able to tell if the whole engine seemed to be trying to start, I`d say far more likely the starter was on it`s last legs and the 30 seconds of cranking finished it off.

Is it a petrol or a diesel?

PS: Saying a component has "burned out" is sometimes just the terminology of the roadside recovery person or mechanic.

Jimbo : oÞ

"There`s that word again... is there a problem with the Earth`s gravitational pull in the future?"

This item was edited on Thursday, 22nd September 2011, 20:49

It`s a petrol, and it`s deffo the starter motor, as I drove it all the way home after a short tow, and died again after turning the engine off.  Luckily I know a mechanic (rover specialist who did the MOT fixes) who will be able to patch it up for me

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So after all the spluttering etc., once you got it going again it was fine? Can`t explain that if so, BUT, as previously said, once the engine is running the starter motor does absolutely nothing.  I assume after turning the engine off, when you tried again it didn`t turn over at all?

Ste

Bingo bango. It seemed to labout very slightly, but nowhere near as bad as yesterday. The `chugs` were so bad they slowed the car semi-violently. My first assumption in situations like that is crap in the fuel line/filter

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Quote:
Pete-MK says...
it`s deffo the starter motor.... then you have two problems then...  Once you start the car your starter motor does nothing and can`t cause spluttering and chugs.  Well, can`t see how anyway.. :)
Quote:
Pete-MK says...
My first assumption in situations like that is crap in the fuel line/filterHence my unanswered question asking whether your fuel level was particularly low.

Ste

It`s always low-ish coming up for payday (monday). We used to have an old nissan prarie, which my dad used to top up with fuel drained from scrapped cars. Suffice to say, what I experienced in the prarie is pretty much what I`m experiencing now...

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Sounds more and more like you have fuel system issues at the same time as your starter motor chucked it.
If your mechanic mate has a garage or a good parts shop ask him to get you a can of Forte fuel conditioner for Petrols (make sure the shop doesn`t give you it for Diesel as it`s more common for those and don`t get Redex, make sure you get Forte, pronounced For-Tay) and fire that into your tank.
You may get a couple of backfires or similar after using the Forte but that`s it blowing **** out the exhaust and clearing it. The stuff is brilliant and most taxi drivers swear by it cos the diesel version can be used to cure smoke emission problems.

Might also be a good idea to get the fuel filter changed, they`re usually only a few quid from a local car parts shop.

Starter motors and alternators are common problems in Rovers so it`s not surprising it`s gone, just unlucky it went at the same time :-/

Jimbo : oÞ

"There`s that word again... is there a problem with the Earth`s gravitational pull in the future?"

If most of your driving is pootling about commuting once you`ve stuck the fuel conditioner in give it a 20 to thirty mile blat up the motorway.
Does sound like two seperate problems though.

Snaps

Every Third Car