I know, I know its a ford, nuff said. However it seems to run on thin air and is just what I need at the moment.

The Problem:
Starter motor is on it's way out. It turns the engine over a few times then seems to jump out of gear. Not a major problem I just need to replace it. The stange thing is when the engine is cold the heater plug light does not come on allthough it does appear to send 12V to the heater plugs. Now if the engine is hot the light does seem to work. Strange. Starting the car when hot is easy, you hardly touch the key and it leaps into life, but when its cold it takes for ever. Especially when the starter keeps jumping out of gear. Any thoughts?

Just a thought that it could be the heater plug relay.

Neil

I have found the relay and it seems to be feeding 12V to the heater plugs for approx 10seconds. Should it be doing anything else?
What I find hard to understand is that the light should work, but only when the engine is hot.

I had a smokey Escort once. Poor starter in the cold seemed to turn forever. Once started the smoke poured out (spent fuel) not burnt. The problem One heater plug down. replaced all four started 1st turn every time. No more black patches on the drive either.

I have measured the heater plugs and they all seem to have a resistance of about 6Ohms I'm guessing that they would have an infinite resistance if they were broken? How much are heater plugs. Is it worth buying a set to see if it fixes the problem? One appears to be new, but the rest look quite old.

This justs get more silly. For the first time in about two weeks the heater plug light came on this morning even though it was a very cold day. However the car was still a b1tch to start.
AAARRRGGGHHHHH!

Mine does not like starting in the cold, but have just had a new starter motor and it starts alot quicker? Have not replaced the heater plugs in 50000 miles so they probably need doing?

Not too bothered as it is getting traded in for a sport tomorrow night, unless you would like it?

203500 miles
oil leak
leaky boot
syncormesh on second is on last legs
M reg (White)

£900?

Replaced all the plugs...........................made no difference.


:(

Use a clamp meter and check to see current draw on the plugs.

Relay as mentioned + connections + grounds.

What sort of vales should I be getting?
By the way the glo plug light doesn't appear to work at all now.

(Isn't this exciting, roll on Skyline GTR!)