Electrics: Worn battery - damage to starter?

[Mistero]

This winter my battery failed. It was the original battery from 2007, so I wasn't too annoyed when it failed.

However, since changing it, I've noticed that the starter solenoid has become dodgy, (when I turn the key from cold, sometimes there's nothing, and then it'll turn over on about the third or fourth key turn - once warm the starter turns every time fine and it's only occasionally that it doesn't turn).

Is it possible that the starter solenoid could have been damaged by a worn battery?

I'd add that the connections to the starter have been checked at P&R Cars in Leeds and all are tight and clean, hence the reason why I think it's the starter solenoid.

[Tannaton]

No - it's most unlikely that the problem you are having is related to the battery failing.

When you say you get nothing when you turn the key - do you mean nothing at all or just a "click" ? The good news is the starter isn't difficult to change.

[cheshired5]

Remove the small starter solenoid plug and clean up the contact blade on the starter itself and the contact surfaces on the removed plug.

The starter sounds fine, which is to be expected at such a young age.

[Mistero]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

When you say you get nothing when you turn the key - do you mean nothing at all or just a "click" ?

When it occurs, I turn the key and nothing happens, I can't hear a click and the lights go off on the dash as if there's not enough current.

[Mistero]

Originally Posted by cheshired5

Remove the small starter solenoid plug and clean up the contact blade on the starter itself and the contact surfaces on the removed plug.

The starter sounds fine, which is to be expected at such a young age.

Peter at P&R said it would be that connection that would be dirty - he said he'd never had to change a D5 starter before - but having checked it they said it was clean and tight. They also checked the other connections to the starter, as well as things like the engine earth strap, I was told.

Once it spins the starter is fine, it's getting it to spin from cold sometimes that's the problem. Sometimes it's fine, other times it's not.

I do appreciate the responses. Many thanks.

[Austin160]

I don't think it is out of the question that a poor battery would have an adverse longer term effect on the starter solenoid. If the voltage on the original battery was low for some time, the voltage onto the solenoid could be low, and the solenoid action would become "lazy" in its operation and cause arcing at the contacts due to the slenoid not contacting energetically.

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by Mistero

When it occurs, I turn the key and nothing happens, I can't hear a click and the lights go off on the dash as if there's not enough current.

Ah - it's probably not your starter then - Check the battery connections and check the battery itself.

What is happening is when you engage the starter, there is insufficient electrical power available to operate it and hence the voltage supply drops to zero other there abouts - which is why the lights go out. The could potentially be a short circuit in the starter motor but it is more likely to be a bad connection at the battery, the high current cabling from the battery to the starter/soleniod or a bad cell in the battery which can happen on new ones.

If it does it again, leave the ignition on and then turn on your headlights, wipers, heat blower motor, heated window etc. to create a high current draw and see what happens.

[Mistero]

Thanks for the further responses on this, Austin and Tannaton.

Plan of action. As these D5 starter motors are deemed unbreakable, (and I'm the only person to ever break one, ever, ha ha), I've taken a chance on a second hand starter motor from Huddersfield Volvo Breakers (for £30) and will try and fit it at the weekend, plus I'll double check all the connections to it and to the battery.

Hopefully we'll get it licked. (Not the battery, you don't lick the battery.*)

Thanks again

[*Ref that almost amusing Halfords WeFit ad on the radio]

[ASt85]

This is an OEM BRAND NEW STARTER -
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VOLVO-S60-...MAAMXQWzNSe4Mu @
£79.95 may actually be a more cost effective & better bet for the next n thousand miles - 2nd hand can be OK but can also be a money pit - if yours has gone wrong at X thousand miles, figure that one from a breaker may not have that many start cycles left in it!

or even the one I bought last year
ROLSTM510VOLVO - Brand New Starter Motor To Fit VOLVO (1.4kw)
CARS510 Brand New Starter BOSCH Motor To Fit VOLVO (1.4kw et al) CARS510 (NNB the same starter is used for the whole of the range!!!)
Total: £59.02 inc p&p
eBay Item ID: 321293546855 bought last year - do an eBay search you'll be surprised what you can get brand new - not re-manufactured!! (Broaden your search to the whole of the UK web and you'll find some cracking deals for these starter motors with a one or two year guarantee)

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by ASt85

ROLSTM510VOLVO - Brand New Starter Motor To Fit VOLVO (1.4kw)
CARS510 Brand New Starter BOSCH Motor To Fit VOLVO (1.4kw et al)

My owner's manual says all engines including the D5 have a 1.4kW starter but Haynes says there's also a 2.0 and a 2.2kW so who is correct?

Normally if there's a discrepancy, the Volvo handbook is by far the most reliable but my recent tests on my starter show that it is indeed a 2.2kW.
It makes sense really because the D5 has a higher CCA battery which would be pointless if the starter was rated the same as the petrols.

In short, for a D5, buy carefully.