Atmo Starter

My Atmo is in the garage and won't start...
I bought a new starter...but not sure it has the right number of terminals... someone mentioned..make sure it had 3 terminals.
(I know I could take the old one off..but that involves pushing the car up a hill..and I only want to do that once)..

Here's a pic...
Thanks !!

Ok..so no..not right...boo
There needs to be one nut terminal and 2 male spade terminals on the starter...
(I managed to limbo under and take a photo)

There needs to be one nut terminal and 2 male spade terminals on the starter...

Yes Dave ...... One cable comes from the battery via the 12v junction box on the bulkhead, and the other goes off to the Alternator on the Atmo.
Suggest also, whilst you are about it, check that the two nuts on their studs in the junction box are tight as they do loosen of very slightly over time.

Thanks..spoke to my local Renault dealer Wilsons Epsom about ordering a starter and they told me I need the oval plate...and muttered about needing to look on an old computer..I told them they just need to know it's for a D500...anyway pretty unhelpful attitude...kept on telling me they needed the oval plate.. I lost patience and told em to forget it...
Different experience with renaultparts direct..a dealership in Swindon who will post out parts.. They could get an exchange starter but would come from France and £150...and may take a week.
I ordered another one off Amazon..and this one looks to have the 3 terminals...


Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk

[pgoldsmith]

Dave,

Probably a bit late now as you've ordered a new one, but there is small firm here AJW Electrics along B3073, Wimborne, Dorset that reconditions starters and alternators.

Had my alternator refurb'd (not exchanged) for around £85. Looks like new and the only parts that didn't get replaced were the main body and the plastic housing.
I believe Cedric used them too - as he suggested them to me.

Obviously you would need to courier it to them and back, but it's another option perhaps for the alternator, when it expires

Remember on your Turbo Dave I had to get the starter refurbed as the mounting holes were a good hole out on the new/exchange unit .....Might be the way from now on but hopefully from France might mean it's OK .
All checked out OK re engine codes etc etc but the body was not right .

There needs to be one nut terminal and 2 male spade terminals on the starter...

Sorry Dave .....I had a senior moment with my last post ....... I have reread your post about the two spade terminals, and you are right, The Atmo does have that type of starter.
One of the spade terminals is the feed to the solenoid when you turn the key to the start position.
The other one is connected to one of the big nut connectors .... the one that is connected directly to the actual starter which becomes live when the solenoid is engaged and the engine is cranking. This second wire goes back to"effectively" bypass a series resistor which is normally in circuit once the engine has stopped cranking and the engine is running. The purpose of this is to boost the EHT spark voltage to assist starting.
Values are not exact, but this is the principle......... the coils normal working voltage is 10v so this is why there is a series resistor to drop the 12v to 10v for normal running. When the starter is energized, that same starter voltage is fed back directly across the 10v coil, thus the coil now produces around 20% more EHT, once the engine starts and you release the key, that voltage is now removed from the coil which is running at its normal 10v. Don't worry the coil is designed to cope with the over voltage for short periods of time.
If it is difficult to get the correct starter, I think Paul Goldsmiths suggestion of a refurb is the way I would go.
I hope this helps.

Thanks all for the advice and the rebuild company...the starter I have looks pretty vintage...half oily half rusty..I thought too far gone for refurb..but I guess it is like Triggers broom when refurb takes place.

I ordered this one in the end.. bit of a risk it will fit..but at least it seems to have the right connections

[pgoldsmith]

Dave, my alternator look well bad and ready for the bin.


- but they cleaned it up so well

My starter motor before

2014-06-05_13-14-51_54.jpg

And after

2014-07-01_22-12-00_726-1.jpg

Most of the internals were replaced too