320d e46 - Starting issue when warm...

[Steven Peplar]

Hi Guys,

This only happens when the car is warm and recently drove it...

Every time I want to start it, it just goes "CLICK"(loud-ish), will try a few times before it starts(it is frustrating), but I get it going with no problem what so ever.

One can hear the pumps etc. all turn on.

Like said only when it is warm, in the morning first take and after work also first take, but it is like when I drive home from work(50km) and stop at the shop before going home(always idle then turn off) and when I come back to leave the mall it would not start just CLICK again.:argh:

Had the car on a computer few days back and there are no issue or error codes(except one glow-plug is out).

Does anybody have any idea of what this could be...?

:fencelook:

 

[P1000]

Starter solenoid

 

[Steven Peplar]

Starter solenoid

Hi,

Thank you for your reply.

How can one be sure it is the starter solenoid? What step should I then take?
(I am not much of a mechanic):sorry:

 

[racing snake]

the solenoid is a big switch and that makes the click sound.
and
it starts the car...:rollsmile:

 

[netercol]

Starter solenoid

+1

if you do not have the skills, you will have to find a place that can remove the starter motor, service it and refit it again.

not for the faint hearted, e46 diesel starter removal is a pain in the ass..

 

[CliftonH]

Agreed with above. A simple way to test also is to kick start it when it does that. If it starts then u know for sure.

Thanks.

 

[Steven Peplar]

Hi Guys,

Thank you for your replies :thumbs:

I have had a look and can see it will be a pain to remove or check.
Will have someone look at it for me, rather safe than sorry.

 

[lozbian]

Hi Guys,

Thank you for your replies :thumbs:

I have had a look and can see it will be a pain to remove or check.
Will have someone look at it for me, rather safe than sorry.

Hi,

Did you work out the problem? was it the solenoid? exact same problem and I've got to the point where i'm thinking the same. Be good to know your outcome- lots of people have starting problems but very few where it won't even crank when warm then will suddenly start perfectly a second later

 

[netercol]

something to remember regarding starters motors on diesel engines that people often forget, is that on a diesel engine the starter does not only need to TURN OVER the engine, it needs to turn over the engine FAST ENOUGH..

this is because unlike a spark ignition petrol engine , a diesel engine is compression ignition.. so the engine has to turn fast enough so that the air in the cylinders can be heated enough by compressing it to start burning the diesel..

for this reason diesels often have extremely powerful starter motors and powerful batteries. iirc the starter on the 3l diesel is a 1.5kw motor!

point in case, recently helped someone with a 330d having starting problems. the car would often start on just one cylinder. the starter was just slow enough to get 1 cylinder running, but because 1 cylinder running was still turning the motor over too slow to start ignition on the others, the engine would just keep chugging away on one or two cylinders. all kinds of electric gremlins was sugested, but it was plain and simply just a worn starter.. replaced and problem solved.

on the other hand, if you hear a click without engine turning, it can only be a bum solinoid.. very little chance of it being anything else.
have the starter replaced or serviced..

 

[lozbian]

something to remember regarding starters motors on diesel engines that people often forget, is that on a diesel engine the starter does not only need to TURN OVER the engine, it needs to turn over the engine FAST ENOUGH..

this is because unlike a spark ignition petrol engine , a diesel engine is compression ignition.. so the engine has to turn fast enough so that the air in the cylinders can be heated enough by compressing it to start burning the diesel..

for this reason diesels often have extremely powerful starter motors and powerful batteries. iirc the starter on the 3l diesel is a 1.5kw motor!

point in case, recently helped someone with a 330d having starting problems. the car would often start on just one cylinder. the starter was just slow enough to get 1 cylinder running, but because 1 cylinder running was still turning the motor over too slow to start ignition on the others, the engine would just keep chugging away on one or two cylinders. all kinds of electric gremlins was sugested, but it was plain and simply just a worn starter.. replaced and problem solved.

on the other hand, if you hear a click without engine turning, it can only be a bum solinoid.. very little chance of it being anything else.
have the starter replaced or serviced..

Thanks- been through hundreads of posts and a fair few diagrams and was thinking must be starter/ solenoid, good to have some reassurance.

Workshop-manuals.com show the starter being accesible from underneath just by removing the underguard- any experience of this? happy if I can just check for voltage when experiencing the problem but would be good if I could change the whole starter without taking the inlet manifold off.

 

[lozbian]

something to remember regarding starters motors on diesel engines that people often forget, is that on a diesel engine the starter does not only need to TURN OVER the engine, it needs to turn over the engine FAST ENOUGH..

this is because unlike a spark ignition petrol engine , a diesel engine is compression ignition.. so the engine has to turn fast enough so that the air in the cylinders can be heated enough by compressing it to start burning the diesel..

for this reason diesels often have extremely powerful starter motors and powerful batteries. iirc the starter on the 3l diesel is a 1.5kw motor!

point in case, recently helped someone with a 330d having starting problems. the car would often start on just one cylinder. the starter was just slow enough to get 1 cylinder running, but because 1 cylinder running was still turning the motor over too slow to start ignition on the others, the engine would just keep chugging away on one or two cylinders. all kinds of electric gremlins was sugested, but it was plain and simply just a worn starter.. replaced and problem solved.

on the other hand, if you hear a click without engine turning, it can only be a bum solinoid.. very little chance of it being anything else.
have the starter replaced or serviced..

Thanks- been through hundreads of posts and a fair few diagrams and was thinking must be starter/ solenoid, good to have some reassurance.

Workshop-manuals.com show the starter being accesible from underneath just by removing the underguard- any experience of this? happy if I can just check for voltage when experiencing the problem but would be good if I could change the whole starter without taking the inlet manifold off.

Changed the starter and problem solved- starer was on it's way out, ok when cold but when hot from the heat soaking from the block it wouldn't work.
Not a bad job to change if you have the right tools. Basically follow the swirl flap guide to get the manifold off then un bolt y shaped cooling hose from head. Once thats off you need a small breaker bar with pivot heat ( 3/8 ") as access is very tight and a torx socket. You can disconnect the wires once the starter is free if you find access tricky.