Intermittent (very) start up problem

[THayes91]

Hi all. T5.1 2011 plate.

Have a very intermittent starter problem with my van. It starts up first time everytime, but occasionally if I'm on site after a long journey and I start and stop 3/4 times faffing around getting it parked up in a short space of time, it won't start up. It makes a clicking sound. Usually I just leave it and it's fine the next day.

Any idea what causes this? It's happened a few times in 18 months, but only ever in the above scenario when I'm in and out for like 30 seconds at a time. Like I said, starts up perfectly every other time.

 

[mmi]

It makes a clicking sound.

What makes the sound? Starter? Sticky solenoid? Time to replace the starter?
Clean and tighten the connections at the battery and at the starter?
Any fault codes - I would expect to see some about the starter?

 

[THayes91]

I am pretty sure it's the starter. All the lights remain on and it just clicks every time in the cab. The problem is, that I've never been able to replicate it in a garage as it usually sorts itself out when left for a bit of time. The only time it didn't I push started it to get it going . Which does suggest the starter ? I've got a mate who's got stilts in his unit so going to get it up there and have a look underneath and see what I can see. I think all the connections will need cleaning up and imagine the starter will probably be ancient and need replacing. The sticky solenoid problem seems common.

 

[mmi]

I would agree the starter is the main suspect - especially if it has serviced the van 14 years so not really surprising.