Car sometimes not turning over

[tenpole]

Recently the 206cc has had some oddities in starting with the key. Sometimes I turn the key and no start motor. I started thinking the battery is flat but try it again and it roars into life. Definitely not an underpowered battery. This evening all lights powered on, I here a click when I turned the key but nothing. I tried again and again. Tried the key fob locking and unlocking. Still nothing.
Stuck it in first gear (with clutch down) while turning key and it turned over and started.

[Capncol]

Dodgy starter or poor connection (usually starter)

[GrandadMonkey]

You should always depress the clutch pedal when operating the starter motor as it reduces the load on it
I agree with Capncol, your starter motor seems to need replacement.

[tenpole]

You should always depress the clutch pedal when operating the starter motor as it reduces the load on it

As it goes, I always start manuals with clutch down. On many American cars the starter wont work without the clutch down. Well Chrysler anyway.

I agree with Capncol, your starter motor seems to need replacement.

Hmm maybe I should loosen the retaining bolt first.

[gazza82]

Actually pressing the clutch can speed up wear on release bearing. In neutral and clutch in there's little extra drag on engine.

Yanks have always had odd ideas when building cars ...

[Capncol]

A lot of modern euroboxes like BMW need the clutch pressed before they will start.

[Capncol]

Hmm maybe I should loosen the retaining bolt first.

Eh??

[tenpole]

Hmm maybe I should loosen the retaining bolt first.

Eh??

So it falls off

[Capncol]

Ah yes! Your usual way of diagnosis! Should have known.

[tenpole]

This morning it started fine. This evening it started fine. I stopped at the pharmacist to get the wife some clove oil gel for a niggly tooth, got in and click but no turning. No amount of gear selecting made any difference. I wonder if this problem only occurs when car is hot. I ended up bump starting the car on a small incline just to get me home as I knew the car would fire up with just a little turning over.

When I got home turned it off and started it three times in a row no problems but on the fourth it kind of locked thought about it then turned over. Maybe there is a spot within the cycle that it sticks on.

[IanL]

My guess - dead spot on the starter motor commutator. In the good old days, the motor shaft had a square end which projected outside the casing. When it wouldn't start (or the bendix jammed) you just reached under your seat for the spanner, opened the bonnet, gave it a turn, and off you go.

Now you fit a new motor, unless you have someone round the corner who rebuilds them.

[iooiuk]

got in and click but no turning.

Another old trick was to hit it with a hammer

[gazza82]

got in and click but no turning.

Another old trick was to hit it with a hammer

That was when you could actually see them to hit!

[tenpole]

The problem only seems to occur when the car is hot. From research I found that it seems to be as Capncol (+2 points) proposed that the sarter motor was dodgy

The motor turned and cranked the engine on first trial but when restarted the engine the starter didn't work again. I suspected the problem was as a result of the corroded electrical contacts in the sealed solenoid assembly that impeded the full flow of electrical current to the motor windings when it was hot.

The best option is to replace the starter motor. I would guess the starter motor is the same for all 206 petrol engines plus a number of other models and makes. The last time I changed a starter motor was on a Ford Cortina. This was easy. On the peugeot I cant even see the starter motor.

[Capncol]

Count how many swear words you use