Offroad-Express

Today i tried to start my 95 escudo and it wont start and stay going. Then it eventually started and stayed going but when i try and start it again it starts alright but has a terrible grinding type noise for about 2 or 3 seconds. Any ideas?

The grinding noise could be a starter problem, might pay to pull it out and give it look-over.

Sticky solenoid. Not engaging correctly and then not disengaging after starting. Whip it off and clean the carbon/dirt etc out of it and bench test itclicking in and out.

My guess.

Are these hard things to get out? My trucks the v6.

Easy to take the bolts out, a bit harder to get it out of the actual engine bay, it sits under the alternator from memory. Disconnect the +Ve on the battery before taking it out, it has a direct feed back to the battery and will cause all kinds of fires if you accidentally short the wrong terminal to anything metal around it.

If you're desperate I think I have some pics somewhere of where it sits underneath, but it's pretty easy to spot.

It could be as simple as the battery terminals. I had issues with the starter motor on vx landcruiser then the 12/24v relay and it turned out to be these things here The bit where the green screw goes through holding the two bits together had burnt out/arcing causing a volt drop which it couldn't deliver enough juice while cranking, most of the times it worked fine and started but the odd time the truck through a wobbly (grinding starter motor, signs of a flat battery, clicking starter motor and also chattering starter relay) Check to see if you have 12v across the starter motor while cranking, if not look else where.