Ls 400 - Its Getting Worse - Some Wisdom Needed Help !

[harrylime]

Mine seems much better since I had the starter contacts replaced. It is possible they were causing a substantial Battery drain when starting the car, even before failing altogether. It is possible to fit a larger Battery but you have to chop the tray a bit. Someone on the forum has done this . I charge mine weekly with my ctek intelligent charger. I also removed the boot light bulb as a precaution

[Chris Skelton]

Ah, yes, the Boot light.

Need a nice 7 year old volunteer!

Or wire in a separate switch!

Isn't the starter hard to get at? (Contacts)

Like lots of stuff, it's good to check contacts this way.

My Citroen CX had junction hassles that caused overheating hassle (fan wouldn't be triggered.)

[plastic orange]

Dreaded click this morning and no amount of Battery charging is helping. It looks like a solenoid repair is in order. Strange that I really had no indication other than dead Battery symptoms - job for next week. Car has done 156k.

Pete

[plastic orange]

Well, it's been transported by the AA to a mate's garage to get sorted today. AA guy didn't know where to look to check starter motor. Here's hoping that will be a fix.

Pete

[ambermarine]

The AA man will rarely have been called out to a LS400 so probably won't have seen the engine before.

I have to admit that when I set eyes on my first LS400 18 years ago I did'nt know where the starter motor was.

it was only after I bought a set of workshop manuals that I really got into the workings of the car.

[plastic orange]

Well, that's it sorted - £120 labour. autodata give 3.1 hours for the job apparently, but as it was my mate's first experience of the job, it took slightly longer.

Pete

[harrylime]

Good result, better than the £450 the main stealer would have wanted to do the same job. It is nice to have the faith restored in my car. As I said, I think it was a long term problem on mine that gradually deteriorated to the point where it would not start. I looked at the contacts which had been removed and one was particularly heavily worn.

[steve2006]

Did you just replace the contacts or the solenoid plunger as well? I got the complete kit when I did mine but did have a near heart stopping moment about 2 weeks after I did the job when the same symptoms reappeared, this time it was down to me, a slightly undertightened Battery connection.

[harrylime]

I got the complete kit

[plastic orange]

Complete kit for me too. Apparently the contacts are a stock item at some auto electricians.

Pete