850 GLT - Remote start causing stater failure?

After going through 3 Starters in two years, my Volvo dealer remembered a
similar case where a lady with a 950 had a similar problem.

Starter would just go "Click"
Hitting the starter would start it on the next try.
She removed her Remote start/alarm and has had no problem since.

I thought that remote starters and alarms were on the low current/control
side of the starter/ignition...

What in an alarm would cause a starter to SEEM to stick...

Or was my dealer just trying to get out of buying me another warrantee
starter?

Bob

 

Bob,

You'd also get the same effect on affected motors, if an immobiliser was
fitted to cut off the supply current to the starter solenoid, when the
immobiler is dis-armed, the supply current has a longer (sometimes much
longer) wire to go through, before it reaches the starter solenoid. This
causes a voltage drop (the solenoid takes a surprising amount of current)
which is enough to cause the solenoid to click, but not drop fully home and
connect the starter windings to B+.
My poor 740 suffered from this, you need to either run thicker/shorter wire
to the starter solenoid, or fit a relay to the solenoid, the relay is
switched when you turn the key to start up, and switches B+ (also from the
starter solenoid), to where you have removed the starter wire running from
the ignition barrel.
This is a lot simpler than it sounds, but, if beyond you, any competent auto
electrician should be able to rig it up for you.

Best wishes,

Ken Phillips, UK