Bit of a problem staring the cossie...............

Turn the key, and you hear the starter solenoid click, but nothing happens.

The starter motor sounds like it's turning (or trying to), but there's nothing!

The battery is charged and showing 12.7v, but it would appear I have a small battery drain somewhere too (possibly headlight related).

The fuse link wires have been cut out, and I can't think of anytning else it can be. The starter motor is brand new, all terminal connections have been cleaned, the earths are all good etc etc...........

Help, as it's driving me up the wall...............

 

Have you tried bumping it.As even if the starter is new it may be jammed.If it starts with a bump it starter related.

 

How new is the starter? Is it whirring or actually clunking (for want of a better term where the gear is thrown accross)

Might be worth taking it out and testing it with some jump leads and a battery.

Not going to teach you to suck eggs on tracing a current drain. But I would have thought even a small ish one would only make the starter lazy not actually turn

EDIT : Stretch might be on to something with that

 

I agree with you Rich about the current drain, hence why I don't think it's related.

Starter is brand new, and I have three other ones here, all of which give the same result.

Stretch - may try that tomorrow....... but strange that it wont go....

 

Just a thought, whats the voltage actually at the starter when you turn the key? Is it still 12V. Might need a helper for that mind

 

If you have tried the other 3 starters and getting the same sympton i would discount it and start as said above looking at the power feed to the starter.If the power feed is defiantly OK and the starter's want engage is there something wrong with flyweel. Take starter off and try bumping it.It should bump easily.If it sstarts then it starter.If you try bumping it with starter in place it may jar starter and then work fine.Should bump easily enough with starter in place so would be my first port of call.HTH

 

sounds like a batt problem not holding load

 

Rich,
Get underneath and short the small terminal to the large terminal with a screwdriver.

If it turns, you have a current supply issue with your LT circuit from switch to starter. If it doesnt, you have a duff starter or a duff battery.

 

If you do as said above.Dont jump when you see the sparks.Good tip though.

 

Stretch you bugger... i was looking forward to the post where Pon announced he shit himself and banged his head

 

It not to bad when your expecting it.It when you drop the spanner/socket etc and it always finds the terminal's on there and fucki does that shit you up.

 

 

 

OHHHH...
Make sure the engine earth is attatched pal

 

make sure the fooker is out of gear first!!!!!

steve

 

The fookin disasters Pon could be reporting on here are terrifying come to think of it!!

 

Good point

 

PMSL - some good ideas there people.

All good ideas to make sure I end up in hospital

Will try shorting the starter in the morning.........

Will report back hopefully in one piece..........

 

Nice to read the project is on the go again Rich

 

Mine starts no bother rich ner ner ner ner nerrrrrr

 

Where is your battery Rich?

Are all the battery earths and battery positive cables secure at the battery and the engine, body, starter and have you got 12v at the small terminal on the starter when you try and crank it?

 

Bellhousing bolt holding the earth lead was about one turn loose. Tightened it up, and hey presto!

Now all I've got to do is find out why the headlamp relay is slowly draining the battery!

 

Dry joint I would guess

 

wont be long now then

 

Rich,

Thought about that, but some of the headlights don't work properly either.

By the way, this is my brother's saff, not mine

 

whens yours gona be done then??? you got to prove the 18's to me . passenger ride round bedford will do nicely

 

Define How many headlights have you got? Or do you mean separate bulbs arent working?

Im guessing the dry joint (Im not even going to dignify your "joke" with a response ) is inside the relay, pop the top off and have a look. If its drawing then maybe its not making the correct connections for the lights. Judging by the other fault, have you double checked all your earth points?

 

Rich,

This actually is my brother's saff!

Just stripped down the headlights and found the following.

It's a twin headlight conversion, but not Morette. It uses adaptors on the original wiring loom, but the previous owner has put a relay in line to power both headlights.

I have Morettes on my car, and they have none of the same re: relays.

There is also a relay for the main beam lights separately wired in. This relay (30 amp) was burnt to a crisp. The relay holder was also burnt. So were both headlamp connectors.

All the earths have been cleaned up and checked.

 

The reason i said "Ohhhh" was i was having a brew considering my pals predicament and it occured to me that is exactly what would happen if the current activated the solenoid and had no return path.. So i quickly added to the post as i was pretty sure that was it, hence the wink

Glad its sorted.. but still sorry you werent scared by sparks