4 replies to this topic

[rich1889]

I’ve just replaced my starter solenoid for sticking only a week ago and now my new 1 has just started sticking closed again had to hit it with a spanner (closest thing to hand) to stop it cranking the starter motor over. Can anyone think of a reason for this? Correct me if im wrong but there’s nothing in between the battery and solenoid (apart from most of the car).

[Dan]

I'd tend to suspect a wiring fault if the new solenoid does the same as the old. There aren't stray cores of fraying cable or tons of damp filth shorting it out are there?

Are you sure it's the solenoid at fault and the motor is actually cranking? It's not just the starter pinion getting stuck in mesh?

What type of starter is it? As ever, it's difficult to really know what might be wrong if people don't answer the questions on the new thread page. All Minis are not the same.

[dklawson]

Also for the old inertia starter there are at least three different solenoid configurations.

IF you happen to have fitted the cylindrical solenoid with the manual override pushbutton on the end... that may be your problem as the quality of the current supply of reproduction ones is terrible.

[bmcecosse]

I have NEVER (in 45 years of motoring) EVER heard of a starter solenoid sticking in! Most likely is the ignition switch sticking in - or as above - a fault in the wiring to the solenoid causing a short to the activation wire.

[dklawson]

Roy, in the past five years I have had three (3) of the cylindrical, pushbutton solenoids fail. Two of them failed with the contacts welded together.

However, I have not had any of the square bodied solenoids fail. I currently have square solenoids on the Mini, and the project Spitfire... only the GT6 still has the cylindrical solenoid. When it fails (and I know it will) I will not put another round one back in its place.