starting problems 03 vito

[carcon]

good evening all.

i have an 03 vito 112cdi which has a history of starting problems some worse than others, the latest one which has been on off for about a year but much worse now, is on a morning you turn the key to start it all the dash lights come as they should, turn key all the way you get a small click then nothing then about 2-3secs later it starts. occasionally it starts straight away, sometimes it doesn,t start at all.
i,ve had injectors checked recently after another non start and two were replaced apparently all ok now.

has anyone had similar problem.
would appreciate any ideas
thanks.

 

[GEORGEROV]

First thing I would check would be all the main earths in the engine compartment as well as, (particularly), on the starter circuit making sure they are secure and to bright metal.

 

[BlackC55]

Does it crank?

 

[carcon]

in the time between turning the key and it starting to turn over which can be 2-3 secs their is nothing.

 

[BlackC55]

Sticky starter?

 

[carcon]

its in for service now, i,ll see if mb can sort it.
thanks for reply.

 

[dava]

Check the battery, under pas seat, they are prone for loose bat leads as well as the earth that goes to the floor there, for some reason they come loose?

 

[carcon]

for anyone with the same problem. mb have said it needs a new starter, so hopefully thats it. only time will tell.

 

[Judge G]

not sure weather that would be the problem, mine has just cut out whilst running and after 3 or 4 attempts the starter motor kicked in. i have now parked the van, but now it wont start at all. must be something to do with the starter circuit, but why did it cut out when driving??
JG

 

[Quick Silver]

for anyone with the same problem. mb have said it needs a new starter, so hopefully thats it. only time will tell.

It's a common fault on the 638 Vito .It will be the starter soleniod , It's a common fault and the problem gets worse as time goes by until it just won't start(starter motor not operating , yet dash lights will be on when you turn the key and then go out as it would do normally)

 

[Judge G]

Cool,
just gone to start it and it kicked in first time! i'll look at getting a new solenoid for it.

 

[Quick Silver]

Cool,
just gone to start it and it kicked in first time! i'll look at getting a new solenoid for it.

You cant just get the solenoid I'm AFRAID YOU HAVE REPLACE THE COMPLETE STARTER MOTOR .And it ain't cheap .

 

[Judge G]

today, van has broken down in nearly the same place, i.e. 2 miles from home, just cut out whilst driving, all electrics still working. went to start the van and oil light came on, dip stick showed just on, so topped up. now oil light still comes on and engine will not crank over. is there a sensor that reads the oil pressure? would this prevent the van from starting?
van beached at the road side atm. think i'll have to join the aa!

 

[Judge G]

RAC have put it down to a clifford alarm problem.

 

[Judge G]

started this morning with no problems, drove 12 miles, parked up for 20mins, came back and nothing again, all lights ok on the dash, but not even cranking over. Alarm guy has come out to check it and that is fine. what next? it cut out whilst driving before so can be starter problem, theres no problem with the merc immobilliser as thats been checked out. could a crank sensor cause the problem or starter motor relay, would this just cause the engine to cut out whilst driving though??
fed up
JG

 

[Judge G]

could this be major? am i looking at ecu problems???

 

[Judge G]

left on the drive for 2 days and started first time. went out 8 miles, parked up and then nothing, so something seems to be warming up and failing. could it be the ignition switch?
think its time for a bmw!

 

[Quick Silver]

As I said in my earlier posts it will be your starter motor .You cannot just replace the solenoid .

It is a common problem on these 638 Vitos , I have run these for 10 years in a taxi business covering hundreds of thousands of miles .For the best part they are good reliable work horses that will go on virtually for ever if well maintained .

Replace the starter motor and your problem will go , If it dont I will eat my hat thats how sure I am that this is your problem .

 

[Judge G]

why should the starter motor cause the engine to stop?? i've put in an earlier post that the engine just cut out whilst i was driving along, probably around 40mph. i would agree with you if this had not have happened.
i just cant work this one out
i've thought of tdc sensor, fuel problem, crank sensor but all of these would allow the engine to crank over, and it doesnt, but it cut out whilst driving.
leave it on the drive for acouple of days and it starts again, runs for about 15 miles and then either cuts out or when you stop it wont start again. could it be a ignition barrel problem?
cheers
JG

 

[Quick Silver]

why should the starter motor cause the engine to stop?? i've put in an earlier post that the engine just cut out whilst i was driving along, probably around 40mph. i would agree with you if this had not have happened.
i just cant work this one out
i've thought of tdc sensor, fuel problem, crank sensor but all of these would allow the engine to crank over, and it doesnt, but it cut out whilst driving.
leave it on the drive for acouple of days and it starts again, runs for about 15 miles and then either cuts out or when you stop it wont start again. could it be a ignition barrel problem?
cheers
JG

Sorry about that , never saw the bit about cutting out whilst driving or at least it didn't register .Yes the ignition switch can be trouble some on these too especially if it's done a lot of miles The ignition switch operates the fuel shut off , so you could in fact have two problems the switch and the starter motor . The switch is about £75 or so , the starter motor around £240 if you use MB replacement .