Starter problem 323F 52 plate 1.3L petrol
 

Hi
I am a new member. My 323F has been so reliable I have not had to post!
My starter has always been first time until today. When I turn the ignition key I can hear the starter solenoid but the motor doesn't move. The lights don't dim and the battery is fully charged.
I will get under the car to check connections and earths but this has never happened before. I have put in gear and rocked the car but no change. It is facing the wrong way to try a pull start.
Obviously the circuit is OK as the solenoid operates. Is there a relay or a fuse that I need to check and is so where is it?

There are only 2 connections on a starter. One straight from the battery and the other from the ignition switch to the starter solenoid. Check for corroded battery terminals first, then see if your getting 12 volts to the small wire in the start position. You will need a helper. Most likely the brush's are worn out in the starter.

Hi
Thanks. I will check the 2 connections. The 12V you spoke of must be there because you definitely hear the solenoid. I suspected brushes but in the past on other cars the problem has been intermittent. This has never occurred on this car. Is there a relay or does the solenoid just close the circuit from battery to starter motor?

Fixed. It was the 4 year-old Varta battery. My charger had said fully charged the first time but wouldn't turn over. When I put it on charge again, 5 minutes later it flashed fully charged and my gauge said 14.5V. After lunch it said 10.5V so obviously it had been an overnight short between cells. I put a new £46 battery in and it worked fine. Then removed the unknown and unwanted radio code:)
To do this put in a wrong code to get the ERR message
preset 6 then AM then Auto M then Seek^
Then Input 1414
Then press and hold Auto M and Preset 6 together until GOOD appears.