If the starter does not work when turned on, then the following reasons are possible:
- battery is defective;
- open circuit between the switch (castle) ignition, traction relay, battery and starter;
- faulty traction relay;
- mechanical or electrical defect of the starter.
To check the battery, turn on the headlights. If their light dims after a few seconds, the battery is low. Recharge or replace the battery. If the headlights do not dim, then turn on the starter and observe the light. If their light dims, then the starter is faulty. If the headlights stay bright (and there is no click of the starter traction relay), then the electrical circuit is damaged or the traction relay is faulty. If the starter rotor turns slowly, and the battery is good and charged, then the starter is defective or there is an open in the starter electrical circuit.
To check for damage in the electrical circuit, disconnect the battery and clean all connections and contacts in the starter power circuit. Reconnect the battery and use a voltmeter to check the voltage through the elements of the electrical circuit to the starter.
If the battery is good and the electrical circuit is not damaged, remove the power wire from the traction relay and connect a voltmeter to it. Turn the ignition key to position «engine start». In this case, the voltmeter should show the voltage of the battery.
The contacts of the traction relay can be checked by connecting a voltmeter between the contact of the traction relay connected to the starter and «weight». When the key is turned to position «engine start» The voltmeter should show voltage. In the absence of voltage, the traction relay is faulty or its contacts are burnt.
If the electrical circuit and the traction relay are working, then the starter is faulty.
Attention! Observe the following precautions when operating the engine starting system:
- - start the engine with a starter for no more than 15 s. If the engine does not start, restart it no earlier than after 2 minutes;
- - the starter is connected directly to the battery and therefore can disable it in case of overloads or a short circuit in the starter;
- - before working on the electrical circuit and components of the starting system, disconnect the wire «masses» from the battery.