hey all, got a slight problem. z4 e85 roadster. put key in turn to start and..nothing. battery checks out, all dash lights come on. I have had many suggestions like "ignition switch" "voltage regulator" etc. will bump start and run perfectly. am I giving myself the fear of a stroke thinking it is actually the starter motor?
engine wont start with key
- Thread starter drainbamaged
- Start date
Put 12v direct to the starter motor and see if it spins, that takes out the ignition switch. If you dont get the starter to spin then your starter motor has failed. They seem to die without prior warning in a lot of cases. Easy to put a replacement in I replaced mine on my 2003 E85 2.5 with one from Carparts4less they currently do a Starline brand here
https://www.carparts4less.co.uk/starter-motor
https://www.carparts4less.co.uk/starter-motor
Oftentimes a starter solenoid will get sticky in its guide tube and jam just before it's fully extended. The pinion gear will be almost fully engaged but it doesn't go quite far enough to bridge the contacts to power the motor. Stripping the solenoid down and cleaning it often the solution.
But you do still need the starter out. However starter motors are a bit of a faff but there's far worse DIY jobs[1] and far worse cars to do it on. I've not done a Z but there's plenty of help on here.
[1] For instance a friend of mine dumped his Smart car on my drive yesterday for new piston rings, valves and guides. And anything else I find while it's apart!
But you do still need the starter out. However starter motors are a bit of a faff but there's far worse DIY jobs[1] and far worse cars to do it on. I've not done a Z but there's plenty of help on here.
[1] For instance a friend of mine dumped his Smart car on my drive yesterday for new piston rings, valves and guides. And anything else I find while it's apart!
A garage with a lift will take about an hour to change a starter, DIY is a fiddle and probably take longer, starters are cheap enough, around £100.
My starter died without warning just the other week. With a new one fitted it spins over way faster than it used to 
Its changed from the top by the way, chap did mine on the drive and it was £180 all in.
Its changed from the top by the way, chap did mine on the drive and it was £180 all in.
Attleborough, Norfolk
[ref]drainbamaged[/ref], whereabouts are you and is your car a 6-cylinder?
If so then you don't need a lift. It's on top of the engine at the back. Fairly easy to get at but you're working blind on the connectors so disconnect the battery first.
If you have a sound generator then pop that off for access.
About an hour all in. Much easier than you think it looks.
If you're near Norfolk I'm happy to help.
NB. If it's a 4-pot I'm not so sure but can't be insurmountable.
If so then you don't need a lift. It's on top of the engine at the back. Fairly easy to get at but you're working blind on the connectors so disconnect the battery first.
If you have a sound generator then pop that off for access.
About an hour all in. Much easier than you think it looks.
If you're near Norfolk I'm happy to help.
NB. If it's a 4-pot I'm not so sure but can't be insurmountable.
thank you all for such sound advice, I live in Chapeltown Sheffield and mine is a 6 pot petrol engine, so I will do as advised and let you know. again thank you all
Thank you all. Ok an update haven't been able to work on car because of the rain, and I have no garage. I have been looking online at videos and I really don't have the tools needed yet..
the rigmaroll it takes is a bit daunting to say the least. and recoding is necessary
guys, on one video a guy changed his starter motor only to find it was the sensor UNDER the damn starter, so the starter had to come out again.
so how do I sort this (money pit ) out
my test is due in 6 days,( need a good code reader ) so might have to let the garage do it which is a frightening thought,
As an afterthought, would a code reader pin point the exact problem? I have worked on my cars in the past but then they didn't have a damn computer in them. will get back later.
the rigmaroll it takes is a bit daunting to say the least. and recoding is necessary
guys, on one video a guy changed his starter motor only to find it was the sensor UNDER the damn starter, so the starter had to come out again.
so how do I sort this (money pit ) out
my test is due in 6 days,( need a good code reader ) so might have to let the garage do it which is a frightening thought,
As an afterthought, would a code reader pin point the exact problem? I have worked on my cars in the past but then they didn't have a damn computer in them. will get back later.
Don't know what you've been watching, but the 'rigmarole' is not that bad tbh. A starter motor definitely does NOT need recoding.drainbamaged said:
Some of these videos tell you to remove inlet manifolds and god knows what else. Not really needed (though you've said 6-pot and I'm familiar with the M54 and not so much the later N52)
So if you need to remove the starter anyway to reach this sensor, why not simply bolt a starter in first.
[ref]bigwinn[/ref], offered to help you five days ago. Time may be getting tight now though but surely try him first.
hi guys, I'm back and thanks to enuff_ zed and bigwinn I stood looking at my engine and thought "surely it can't be that simple" BUT it WAS
took me about an hour but replacement starter is in, I am learning every time I have a problem to come here and get advice. so I am grateful fot the help. might be back with another problem after the test tomorrow. so watch this space so to speak and again thank you.
took me about an hour but replacement starter is in, I am learning every time I have a problem to come here and get advice. so I am grateful fot the help. might be back with another problem after the test tomorrow. so watch this space so to speak and again thank you.
you know, I never thought about that hang on............yup starts first time 
:lol:
:lol:
This was a cheery thread to read 
Well done everybody! 
Well done everybody!