Aygo starter motor replacement not working

[tulwarq]

I'm having a few problems with my 2006 Aygo and wondering if anyone would be able to help with any advice please?

Earlier this year it failed to start properly and in an attempt to save a bit of money I tried to fix it myself. The engine wouldn't turn over, so I followed a few tutorials on YouTube and naively thought I could fix it myself.

I replaced the Battery first, as the guy in the shop said it was close to end of life. That didn't get the car started.

I also replaced the clip on the negative terminal of the Battery too (pictured and circled in red) which I had to adjust slightly and make the hole wider (blue bit) so it'd fit over the terminal. Still that didn't solve the problem.

I then replaced the starter motor from one I ordered on eBay here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204706826235

Once I'd done the the engine actually turned over and started! I was quite happy and thought I'd managed to fix it, but when I tried to start the car again the next day it didn't start and I was back to square one.

Initially the starter motor wouldn't make any noise at all, all of the dash lights would go out apart from the orange engine light and there was no noise from the starter motor. I persisted and kept trying to turn it over. It's started to now make some noise when turning over (presuming it was stuck or something), now it almost sounds like the starter motor is just spinning or grinding. I've attached a video of it in action.

I really don't have any idea what to do next and don't have the cash to take it to the garage.

Could anyone give me a few pointers to see if I can fix it properly myself please? I feel like I'm quite close to getting it started but not sure what to look for next.

Many thanks for any help you can give.

[Mooly]

Those videos sound like the starter pinion (the little gear on the motor output shaft) isn't engaging with the teeth on the flywheel. Check the gear matches exactly the one on the old original motor.

https://youtu.be/NqWNP46ERX0

Worst case the teeth on the flywheel could be broken or missing.

When you mentioned no noise at all... that sounds like another different issue such as no power reaching the motor... but your videos clearly sound like the pinion chattering on the flywheel ring gear.

 

 

 

[flash22]

that sounds like a locked-up engine, take the fan/aux belt off and see if the alternator, A/C and water pump all turn by hand, if so bar the engine over by hand using a ratchet or spanner on the crank (it may require a bar/pole/pipe for leverage) - you may want to remove the spark plugs to make life easy - I take it the oil and fluids are at the required levels

the early cars have a habit of the alternator bearings letting go or seizing solid

[tulwarq]

Thanks both, I'll take a look this weekend and follow your suggestions to see if I can get it started and update back here. Cheers.

[Vandals01]

Yes, a couple of issues here:

1. Battery have a shelf life on it, so always buy one that is fresh.  How do you know which one is fresh?  Buy it from places that moves their stock fast.  E.g. Halford / GSFCarParts / online such as http://www.tanya.co.uk or https://batterygroup.co.uk/ .  You don't want to buy it from a small corner automotive shop that sell one Battery per year.
2. Get a Battery tester or bare minimum a Multimeter to read the battery voltage.  Good battery should be around 12.6v.  Less than 12.6v?  Put it on a charger.  Also when you crank the engine, the battery should not drop less than 10.6v.  Less than 10.6 means the battery is either under charge or near the end of its life.
3. Just because it is new does not mean its good.  Especially when buying parts on eBay.
4. Check to see if you can turn over the crankshaft with a ratchet.  To avoid jump timing, you should spin it anti-clockwise when you reach in from the driver side.

Judge from the video, it sounds like a bad starter i.e: The starter spindle did not engage the flywheel properly.  This could be incorrect teeth count / damaged flywheel teeth or just bad starter that does not extend out properly.