Starter Fault?

[David McHugh]

Hi Guys, I am hoping that someone can give me some answers.

I went to start the car and all I got was a click from the solenoid i guess, i got a second hand starter, on the first attempt it turned the engine very slowly and when i tried a second time, all i got was a click the same as my original starter. I presumed the second hand starter was faulty so i exchanged for another used one. I fitted the started tried to start the car and it was turning the engine over without any problem (car usually needs several attempts to start) it didn't start first time, turned the key again and CLICK, not even an attempt to turn over just click the same as with my original starter.I am baffled, surely its not frying the starter motors, no wiring has been changed. The battery is showing 12.65 V and while turning the key it drops to 12.32 V so i don't see a problem with the battery.

 

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you in advance David...

[AndyCrews]

My Spitfire did this sometimes last year. Clicked a couple of times, but would start in the end. Over the winter the battery gave up the ghost and I changed it. The difference was amazing....The starter turned the engine much faster and no clicking since. So even if the battery seems OK, it might be on the way out.

 

Andy

[dougbgt6]

A good test is both jump leads from battery to starter motor. If it works your battery and starter are OK and the problem is in your wiring, earth straps are likely culprits.

[Pete Lewis]

yes clean any shiny deposits from under the battery post clamps, get to a clean dull lead 

 

solenoids do get the green devil inside , and dont transfer the current well, so try bridge the sol terminals with a old screwdriver, you will get some sparks .

if it fires the motor your solenoid is failed.  

 

as said clean all terminals feeds and earths

 

 

and yes you could have a dud cell which gives you voltage but No current capacity 

 

most factors will check the disccharge rate for free

 

pete

[David McHugh]

Thanks for the help guys. I have established that i have a wiring issue which of course leads to another question. about the earthing of the coil. I installed electronic ignition which requires removing the coil neg to distributor and adding the electronic module that sits in the distributor and is wired across the coil ie. red to + and black to -  , so my question is how is the coil now earthed? is it a case of simply adding another wire to the - on the coil and the other end to metal ?

 

Your help is much appreciated as usual

 

thank you in advance 

David...

[David McHugh]

it's okay i have sorted it out, thank you for your help guys.

 

All the best

David...

[Pete Lewis]

Glad its sorted,

the coil is earthed via the electronic unit when it switches it earths via the base plate in the dizzy.

its important the braided earth link in the dizzy is sound

[Barry Kemp]

I have a similar problem as David. Battery is checked and good but when I turn the key all I get is a loud click from the solenoid.

Pete - to test you say to bridge the terminals on the solenoid, which terminals do you mean?

 

Cheers,

 

Barry

[Bordfunker]

On the solenoid you should have a terminal to which the positive lead from the battery is bolted.

 

Next to this should be bolted the lead that runs to the starter motor itself.

 

If you bridge these two pints with something insulated, like a screwdriver, you are effectively taking the solenoid out of the equation.

 

Alternatively connect the positive terminal on the battery to the power feed in the starter motor.

 

I know all this because Pete has been talking me through similar issues.

 

Karl

[Barry Kemp]

Thanks Karl,

I had to short the terminals a few times before the starter motor came to life - but the sparks were exciting!

Guess that means a new solenoid...still a fairly cheap replacement, so not too bad.

[Bordfunker]

I was just passing on Pete's sage advice.

 

Glad it was just the solenoid.

 

Mine was playing up last week and resulted in a new starter.

 

Karl

[Barry Kemp]

All fixed!

Thanks once again TSSC forum....where would I be without you (still in the garage probably !)

 

Barry

[Pete Lewis]

Or the pub !!!