Peugeot boxer 2.2 HDI starter issue

[Hadmund]

My dad's Peugeot boxer has decided on it's own accord (as french cars often do) that it does not want to start. After more diagnosing that I would like to admit my neighbour came by and gave me hand and we narrowed it down to the starter solenoid. Measuring the voltages on the connections on the solenoid shows that it gets constant power, and it gets just under battery voltage to the signal connector when the key is turned all the way. Still no click or any sound from the solenoid.

Now when it comes to getting a replacement I was considering just getting an entire starter as it isn't much more expensive and in case my diagnosis is wrong then it should solve any problem with the motor as well.

The problem so far is that I seem to be finding a lot of different starters that all supposedly fit a 2.2 hdi in a Peugeot boxer. However they all give different power numbers and some look like they have different bolt patterns. Does anyone know any good way to narrow it down and find something that is guaranteed to fit? I'm unsure if a vin number search would work as the engine has been switched out after the previous one got a crack in the oil pan.

Thanks in advance

-Odin

[RichardW]

I was going to say post the Vin, but you have answered that one!

Only sure fire way is to remove the existing starter and take it to the shop to compare. You can probably get it rebuilt for similar to a cheap unknown quality one!

[Paul-R]

Sadly, specialist auto electrician repairers of starter motors, alternators, etc are becoming very thin on the ground

[Hadmund]

I was going to say post the Vin, but you have answered that one!

Only sure fire way is to remove the existing starter and take it to the shop to compare. You can probably get it rebuilt for similar to a cheap unknown quality one!

I asked the local mechanic about the whole ordeal and he said that they don't do repairs like that anymore and that it would probably cost as much as him ordering a new one.

I didn't have the actual starter in so u suppose him ordering a new one just by the reg could have ended badly as well. I didn't end up buying one from him though as he wanted close to 600 which is about 3.5x what they go for online...

I'll see if I can ask the garage that did the engine swap if they have any papers on it that could track down what starter i need. Other than that it's probably also just as effective to pull the starter off the car and take it to a mechanic and see if they can find a part number.

[moizeau]

I had to change to solenoid on my 2.0 HDI. It cost 20 euros and really easy to change with the starter being at the front and very accessible. Did it blow the solenoid fuse before packing up completely. Mine used to blow the fuse when warm. You could short the 2 large solenoid terminals and see if the starter spins. MAKE SURE IT'S NOT IN GEAR.

[Rp0thejester]

Well isn't there a plate on the engine block? It'll tell you what engine it is. It would be highly unusual if it was replaced with a better/worse engine. My car has a replacement engine it's like for like what was there as connections would be different etc. Check the engine plate, it'll give a code, normally 2 letters and 2 digits which would be your engine type, check this against your VIN to see if same was fitted.

[wheeler]

Yes there may be power & a signal to the starter but is it getting an earth?
Dont forget to check the earth before condemning the starter. Try putting a jump cable straight from the starter casing to the battery negative. A corroded earth strap could allow enough currrent to pass to put the ignition lights on but not good enough to carry the several hundred amps needed to operate the starter.

[Hadmund]

Yes there may be power & a signal to the starter but is it getting an earth?
Dont forget to check the earth before condemning the starter. Try putting a jump cable straight from the starter casing to the battery negative. A corroded earth strap could allow enough currrent to pass to put the ignition lights on but not good enough to carry the several hundred amps needed to operate the starter.

I've tried connecting a jump cable from the chassis to the engine and that didn't seem to solve it. I'll try connecting it directly to the starter.

I've still got the old engine that was swapped out earlier lying around. I checked to see if there was a starter on it that I could plunder. There was no starter on the old engine which leads me to believe that they used the starter from the old engine on the new one and that I can probably just check the vin number and get the part that shows up there.

[Hadmund]

Well isn't there a plate on the engine block? It'll tell you what engine it is. It would be highly unusual if it was replaced with a better/worse engine. My car has a replacement engine it's like for like what was there as connections would be different etc. Check the engine plate, it'll give a code, normally 2 letters and 2 digits which would be your engine type, check this against your VIN to see if same was fitted.

I haven't seen a plate on the engine so far while working on it but I haven't looked specifically for it. I'll have a look on the old one I've got lying around too see where the plate is and then try to find it on the one actually in the car.

[Hadmund]

I've checked that the starter fits on the old engine. Could I get a part number for the starter motor from an admin. The vin number is VF3**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]

[RichardW]

[Hadmund]

Thanks!