Alfa Romeo Owners Club of Australia Forum

Technical => 939 Series (159, Brera and Brera Spider) => Topic started by: David Mills on October 13, 2018, 08:12:30 PM

Title: 159 intermittent starting problem
Post by: David Mills on October 13, 2018, 08:12:30 PM
159 3.2 q4

Today, refused to start.  Had been started/stopped a few times earlier in day.   Battery strong, only a couple of years old.  All other electrics working well. No untoward messages on display except  spanner advising  time for service been up for about 3 days.

After resting, cursing etc and a few goes over half an hour or so, did come to life.  Then repeated the trick again.  After a while started normally and so far no further repeats.

Any ideas?

Update.  Symptom is nothing happens when starter button presses save for a click somewhere (solenoid?)
Title: Re: 159 intermittent starting problem
Post by: bazzbazz on October 13, 2018, 08:35:22 PM
First check that battery terminals are tight, then the connections to the starter motor itself. 

If its not a connection issue I'd say your starter motor was on its way out.

Where are you located?
Title: Re: 159 intermittent starting problem
Post by: David Mills on October 14, 2018, 01:44:32 PM
Thanks Baz

Working ok today.  Battery terminals tight.  Starter fail at less than 90,000km?

I'm in Tassie.  Very nice at this time of the year if you would like to pop in


Title: Re: 159 intermittent starting problem
Post by: bazzbazz on October 14, 2018, 02:04:23 PM
Did you check the terminals on the starter?
Title: Re: 159 intermittent starting problem
Post by: Citroƫnbender on October 15, 2018, 08:08:38 AM
Quote from: "David Mills"
I'm in Tassie.  Very nice at this time of the year if you would like to pop in
"Nice" can be subjective! Photo taken yesterday arvo near Liena.

I do have MES though, if your options are looking thin.
Title: Re: 159 intermittent starting problem
Post by: David Mills on October 15, 2018, 06:37:18 PM
No recurrence of problem so will cross fingers, book in for service and hope not to have further problems. Intermittent faults are always frustrating.

CB. You do choose your spots!  I imagine it wouldn't have been too different at Kosciusko yesterday