Starting Problems. Jump Starts Ok
#1
Posted 18 August 2007 - 03:22 PM
I checked the battery top up bits and they look empty, but the label on the battery says "maintenance free".. do i still have to fill it up with water..? (lol)
The solonoid makes the clicking noise, but after that, nothing. I followed the haynes, and put my lights on then turned the ignition to see if the lights dim, they dont. So i cleaned up the connections from the solonoid to the starter, but nothing. My lights work fine, and dont go dim like they would if i did have a flat battery.
Please help me, i dont want to walk to work in the rain tomorrow.. but then i'll have to fix it today in the rain... Lifes harsh. Its because i broke my side mirror today. since then it wouldnt start. my wiper broke off and went flying into a bush... and now it wont start again..
#2
Posted 18 August 2007 - 04:09 PM
Past that sounds like a sticky starter. Give it a few taps to see if it frees it up.
#3
Posted 18 August 2007 - 05:20 PM
#4
Posted 18 August 2007 - 05:30 PM
If you have a voltmeter, connect it to the battery. Take a reading while just sitting there. Then, have an assistant try to start the car while you watch the voltage. If it drops much below 8V while you try and start the car, suspect the battery. However, you said the headlights didn't dim and that is very curious. I suggest that as part of your troubleshooting you disconnect, clean, and re-attach the ground strap between the chassis and the engine. Also make sure the ground connection in the boot is clean and secure. Don't trust the outward appearance, take it apart, clean it, and put it back together. If the ground strap between the chassis and the engine is a braided cable, check its physical condition. If it's a vinyl covered cable, there's a chance it's corroded inside and you may want to consider replacing it. A test you can make prior to replacing it would be to make a parallel connection between the chassis and engine using a set of jumper cables. If the starter works well with the jumper cable in place, it indicates a problem with the standard ground strap.
The solenoid chatter you describe is typical of a dead or dying battery, so your observation that the headlights don't dim is very curious. An additional thing to check is to make sure that the solenoid (assuming this is an inertia starter) has a good ground. If it doesn't the solenoid won't pull closed to power the starter.
#5
Posted 18 August 2007 - 06:58 PM
From pictures it looks like i have an inertia, as i dont have that piggy back *******.
#6
Posted 18 August 2007 - 07:45 PM
#7
Posted 18 August 2007 - 07:48 PM
sounds like earthing problems on the engine block. check the engine to body earth strap
Is this strap thing bolted at the engine mount? if so this fell off about 2 months ago...
#8
Posted 18 August 2007 - 08:05 PM
get a jump lead, clamp one end on your engine, and the other end onto a suitable point on the bodyshell, best place is the plate where the brake and clutch cylinders are bolted to. see if the car starts, and if it does, then you need a new earth strap.
#9
Posted 18 August 2007 - 08:34 PM
it normally goes from the engine steady bar above the clutch housing, to the other end of the bar where it bolts to the bodyshell, just below the clutch master cylinder. if thats missing, or damaged, then thats most likely your problem.
get a jump lead, clamp one end on your engine, and the other end onto a suitable point on the bodyshell, best place is the plate where the brake and clutch cylinders are bolted to. see if the car starts, and if it does, then you need a new earth strap.
Ok will do. But i dont have any jump leads anymore... any old bit of metal would do though im sure... we'll see.
#10
Posted 18 August 2007 - 08:41 PM
#11
Posted 19 August 2007 - 06:20 AM
no harm in trying.
Didnt work... with a screw driver.
#12
Posted 19 August 2007 - 10:37 AM
If your lights dont dim when your turning the key, it means that there is not enough power reaching the starter motor, as usually it would drain the power from the lights to fire up your engine.
#13
Posted 19 August 2007 - 07:39 PM
#14
Posted 19 August 2007 - 07:55 PM
#15
Posted 19 August 2007 - 08:03 PM
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