For months now my Skoda Estelle has been difficult to start as if the battery is discharged so it turns over very slowly.I could get it started before but it wont turn over fast enough now to start. I have done the following with no success:-
New battery
New starter motor.
Run an earth cable directly to the starter motor from the battery
Run a jump lead directly from the battery to the starter solenoid
Drain test with the earth lead disconnected and the ignition off shows 0.32amp
Drain test with the earth lead disconnected and the ignition on shows 2.1amps (It has a Facet pump fitted accounting for this)
Is there anything else in the starter circuit that could account for a drain on the battery when the starter circuit is engauged? At present its driving me nuts (and costing me as well!!!)
Over to you auto electricians.

Could be talking out of my backside but cylinder compression?

I've found the pug is a slow starter when it's cold

Did you actually check the charging voltage before you started replacing parts ?

A fully charged battery in this weather will show at least 12.5v ignition off, at over 1500 rpm it should show at least 13.4 volts but always less than 14.9 volts.
Then with head lights switched on it should stay over 13.4 volts and not jump above 14.9v when the lights are is switched off.

Have you checked the cranking voltage ? ---- put a voltmeter across the battery when turning the engine over (should be more than 9 volts , over 10.2 is normal)
If you did then start by looking for high resistance in the main leads and earths do this by checking the voltage drop on the leads when the starter is being turned over.

Mechanical possibilities are Head gasket or crankshaft thrust bearing or partial seizure.


[Edited on 24/12/11 by britishtrident]

Have you tried slackening the starter motor mounting bolts slightly? I had a similar problem with my Lada Niva and for whatever reason, the starter was too tight on the ring-gear. Once the bolts were backed-off, it worked OK. I just filed the holes a bit bigger and tightened. Job jobbed.