1.9 wbx wont crank

[Cmcalpine3]

Have recently purchased a t25 1.9 petrol and am having problems getting it to turn over
The engine will not crank unless the spark plugs are removed. Hoping its something stupid that im not doing. Van has a new battery and a new starter motor and i have checked all connections to and from as it has all the symptoms of a flat battery. Have done an oil and filter change just as it had been sitting for a while.

All help appreciated. Thanks

[captain Byrne]

Was it running when you bought it?

[Cmcalpine3]

No but i know the guy i got it from and it was running in marchl when it was parked up

[itchyfeet]

bad earth on gearbox or corroded main cable.

[937carrera]

Check for poor connections on battery, poor earth and voltage drop to the starter.

You can eliminate all that by taking the battery off and connecting that direct to the starter motor, using a jump wire for the solenoid.

[itchyfeet]

Check for poor connections on battery, poor earth and voltage drop to the starter.

You can eliminate all that by taking the battery off and connecting that direct to the starter motor, using a jump wire for the solenoid.

just don't take the starter out and test it, it must be in the gearbox as it only has one bearing.

[Cmcalpine3]

Thanks guys.
Have tried the jump leads straight onto the starter and its the same still.
I put the earth cable onto the starter bolt through the bellhousing at the top still no crank

[itchyfeet]

how did you trigger the starter motor
use a fresh piece of wire not the vehicle electrics
if its still slow then you need to.try anotyer starter motor before assuming the engine is at fault.

[Cmcalpine3]

I triggered the starter with the jump leads then onto a battery out of the vehicle. The engine turns over great when the plugs are removed and turns nice with a spanner on the crank pulley so i think the engine internally is ok. This is the 3rd starter ive had in it and they are all the same

[937carrera]

Is the oilite bush in the starter housing ok ?

[kevtherev]

This is an electrical fault.
Either with the cabling or the connections or the starter
You need to eliminate by testing not assuming or guessing one at a time.
If the motor spins without plugs then the motor is being robbed of current by some means

[937carrera]

Kev,

He's already eliminated the van wiring by putting current direct to the starter.

[captain Byrne]

Sounds like a knackered battery to me. When you say it's a new battery, did you buy it, or did the guy you bought the van from just tell you it was new?

[Cmcalpine3]

Yeah ive went a got a brand new battery, tried it with a jump aswell still nothing.
How would i check the bush in the starter housing?
Thanks

[937carrera]

You need to remove the starter, then look into the hole in the housing, it'll be obvious when the starter is out