VW POLO SECOND STARTER
Q
I have a problem with my
1979 Volkswagen Polo
1.3 (HH engine code) which is baffling me, and one I would like to resolve before I begin to lose the patience of my parts supplier.
After a starting problem,
I concluded that the starter motor must be at fault. I had already replaced the battery and checked the charging system, and so believed that the next step would be to replace the starter. This I did and the problem appeared to be fixed, but unfortunately four weeks later I once again had the same problems, with the starter only turning over slowly after the initial burst and then quickly reducing to such a pace that the engine no longer turned.
I returned the starter to the supplier, who filled out a warranty form for me and replaced the unit. Sad to say I am now back in the same situation because after a couple of weeks things are back to the way they were before the original replacement. I would like to hear your opinion before I go back again to the supplier.
AI will first say that even if the two replacement units from the supplier were faulty, the chances that they would be displaying exactly the same symptoms as your original unit would be extremely low. Presuming you have checked the charging system and all is well, I suspect that the problem is more in the voltage supply circuit which is then disturbed each time you replace the starter.
I have seen dry solder on the large terminal connection fail which then provides a resistance to the starter. This may be temporarily rectified when it is disconnected, moved and then reconnected. By disconnecting the starter cable and checking the resistance with an ohm meter, you may well find that not only is there a high resistance, but by twisting the cable this resistance will alter. The other point to check would be the earth connections, although this is less likely as they would not be disturbed during the fitting of the starter.