turn the key, lights on dash on as normal, turn key again and it seems as tho the battery is dead but theres the engine is cranking and then the engine fires into life. Batterys not dead coz i checked it. Something seems to be making a racket under the bonnet! If its seized, can i spray it with wd40 to free it up abit. I know i need a new one but i'd have to go pick it up!

Also, why would i find oil in the air filter housing?

Help?

The oil comes from the crankcase breather. It depends how much. A little on an old engine is acceptable. A soaking air filter isnt & its probably going to fail an emmissions test.

ok red. cheers for that. I'll have a better look when it stops rainin! My theory on the starter motor is right i think. Just went out and tried to start car but the starter sounds incredibly noisy and cudnt crank engine over.

Where do i find the starter motor ????

Starter motors at the back of the engine. check all the wiring is good and connections between battery and starter are tight and clean!!

its not hidden under loads of pipes n stuff is it? We followed the starter feed from the battery to somewhere under the airfilter area where the wire joins the engine. arse to get at! Will a starter from a 1.0l fox fit onto a 1.3?

I need to get it fixed so i'll have to give it a whirl.

Check your earth leads first.

id say DEF check your earth leads. there are two, one just at the front of the car l near the driver side light, the other one is by the side of the battery. Make sure these are both tight. Have you been able to get the car going by bump starting it by pushing it down a hill or anything?

i could prob bet my sunday roast dinner that the earth is the prob!

starter motor got changed today. Went to turn engine over - nothing! Seems as though the battery couldn't hold its charge. The old starter motor was getting noisy though so needed changing.

My mates coming over tomorrow and i've charged a different battery so we are gonna try that, otherwise change the alternator too!

One of the earth straps looks reasonably new so i'll check the other one tomorrow.

did you source a new starter or just get one from the scrappy. let me know where and how much if you wouldnt mind mate.

mine is damn noisy as well, quacks every time i start the car haha.

Edited 1 July, 200719 yr by Ross

Back to the oil in the filter issue. I read somewhere that you should take the plastic canister off, found under the air box, & wash it out with diesel. This will improve that problem for a while as they never get serviced. Depends how many miles youve done & the engines condition as to how long it lasts. Oh & its a pig to get at as its near that starter but seeing as your under there anyway!