DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

Everynow and again I have a starting problem, it can happen when the engine is both hot and cold.

Turn key to start position….nothing, starter does not engage, first time it happened it drove me bonkers, I ended up pulling out the ignition switch in a multi storey car park, to check all connections also at the starter and through the 14 pin connector everything was fine, I eventually admitted defeat and called the AA, he came along and we moved the car back an inch or so so he could check the battery, tried starting and I heard a click of the starter, tried again and the car started (after about an hour and a half of faffing) AA bloke sends me on my way with no fault found.

So this is the weird bit, it‘s happened a few times since and without fail every time I leave the car OUT OF GEAR and I push it slightly forwards or backwards, just a few inches or so, turn the key to start, the starter engages and the car starts right up no problem. I’d think there was something up with the starter or the ring gear if I was doing this with the car IN GEAR, but by moving it out of gear I really can’t see what I’m changing.

At the moment I’m putting it down to the car having a soul, or character, or maybe it’s possessed , it’s like it’s picky about where it likes to be started, it’s almost saying to me I don’t wanna start there, I wanna start over there please .

It’s not really a big problem yet, infact it's quite amusing, but I‘d be delighted to hear if anyone’s got any suggestions?

Sorry no real help really but I had a Beetle that this happened occasionally, would just stick it gear and take the handbrake off, would lurch a tad and then the starter would engage instantly!

I could never figure if it was something sticking on the starter a slightly duff battery not having enough oomph sometimes or a occasionally dodgy earth. Maybe worn bushes on the starter motor, the roll forward might just move it to a less worn area on the commutator?! or whatever they're called.

Serves you right for putting a big lump of an engine in it!!

Just put it down to character

Sounds like an ideal ant-theft device !

Andy Said:

Sounds like an ideal ant-theft device !

Hmmmm, now why would you want to do that

You need to talk to it more.

Lightweight_911 wrote:Sounds like an ideal ant-theft device !

it's stumped everyone i've asked so far, i'll not mess around with anything yet then. I will be replacing the ring gear when the 915 gearbox goes in though as the current one appeared to have taken a bit of a battering from a previous sticky starter, not sure what difference that will make though.

It's not really bothering me, just hope i never need to make any quick getaways.