Rav4 "p" Reg Wont Start "help"

[yorkshire]

Hi Everybody

I went to start the Rav on Saturday to give it a run (second car for winter), it's a P reg. I put the key in the ignition and when I turned it there was a noise, which sounded like a metal woodpecker or a child’s machine gun, needless to say it didn’t start. I’ve had out the Haynes book but I’m still bewildered, could it be the starter motor or the solenoid. I make reference to these parts without any knowledge.

Many Thanks for reading and more thanks if you respond

[Tech01]

Hi Howard,

Not sure whether you're petrol or diesel, but it doesn't matter much. Machine gun sound when trying to start is almost always due to Battery voltage being too low to operate the starter motor. The hammering noise is the starter solenoid not doing its stuff, because the starter motor is knocking the voltage right down.

When IGN is switched on, dash warning lights will probably illuminate, and low-current items such as the roof-light will probably work ok, but as soon as you twist the key to start, then most of these lights will probably extinguish or dim out, and come back on when the key is released.

Charge the Battery overnight, or jump-start the vehicle. Battery may be on its last legs, of course. A good one will hold its charge for a month or much more, without using the car.

Hope helpful,

Chris

[Davrav]

Welcome to the club Yorkshire [obvoius pun there but I'll resist]

From your description it does lead me to think starter solenoid but I have nil knowledge of your particular motor so best wait for others to advise................

[crofter]

Hi Howard.

It could be a flat Battery .

It sounds as if there is enough in the Battery to operate the solonoid to push in the starter and when that happens it takes the power from the solonoid and switches it off and that is what you hear,the plunger in the solonoid clicking backwards and forwards, as when the starter robs the soloniod power returns to the solonoid which sets up a chain reaction as long as the key is turned to start.

Another time this can happen is if you have a loose or dirty connection on the Battery terminals which prevents full

power reaching the solonoid.

HTH

Del

[yorkshire]

Thanks Guys

All sound like my problem, I will put the Battery on charge tomorrow and see how we go

Many Thanks