27 replies to this topic

[GageHolding]

Hey All, me again, (Hopefully) a quick question about starter motors;

 

Car wasn't starting off the key, the starter motor needed a whack with a stick, or a bump start to get it going, finally gave in and bought a new starter motor and just tried fitting it today but the car still isn't firing off the key, the motor is spinning as I can see the fan belt going just the engine won't fire up on her own.

 

Just wondering if anyone has any tips or is it time for me to call the RAC out again? 

 

Cheers!

Gage

 

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[GageHolding]

Update: The car is trying to start, she'll cough once or twice before the starter just whines. she wants to start!

[KernowCooper]

have you done a basic engine tune? tappets, plugs, points and timing.

[CityEPete]

Is that the wire for your dizzy not attached to anything?

[mk1leg]

check condensor it may be faulty..(in Dizzy)

[cal844]

check condensor it may be faulty..(in Dizzy)

The condensor is on the coil

[Barman]

 

check condensor it may be faulty..(in Dizzy)

The condensor is on the coil

 

When did they move it there...?

[Dan]

I can't imagine one built like that! I think you might be confusing the ignition condenser with an interference suppressor there Cal.

Edited by Dan, 22 May 2014 - 07:53 PM.

[CityEPete]

Id also be checking the engine and battery earthing points, make sure they are spotless,tight and lightly smeared with vaseline. A weekend of cleaning every bullet connection and fixing rotten terminals would save a lot of problems on this site imo.

[GageHolding]

Just tried cleaning up all the connectors on the solenoid, and it looks like there is a second earth running from the engine to the body, the one on the battery was replaced quite recently and also looks good.

 

tried jumping off of another car to ensure there was lots of nice power and still couldnt get her to go, RAC Man said that it sounded like the starter motor was engaging but kicking out again and to check the flywheel for any chipped teeth etc

 

other than that you reckon the distributor?

[monkey]

If you can bump start it then there's nothing wrong with the dizzy.

Does the starter spin? If so the wiring is good and I would suggest it's either a dodgy starter or as suggested by the RAC man the teeth on the flywheel.

[GageHolding]

Car was previously bumped, before I changed the starter, so that means the dizzy checks out

 

The starter is spinning and connecting, the engine is coughing but not firing fully into life, checked the teeth and some look a little worn but they don't look bad enough to stop it starting, then again I wouldn't know I haven't had this before! 

 

This starter motor sounds weirder than the last one (I know what I mean!) so I'm going to try again with the other one and see if any luck and take them all to a specialist/back to the shop!

[dklawson]

The starter is spinning and connecting, the engine is coughing but not firing fully into life, checked the teeth and some look a little worn but they don't look bad enough to stop it starting, then again I wouldn't know I haven't had this before! 

 

I suggest not focusing on the starter motor at this time.  You have said a couple of times that it is engaging, turning the engine over, and getting kicked out.  Inertia starters are supposed to get kicked out when the engine starts to fire so that is normal.  The fact that the engine is being turned by the starter is indication that it is doing what it is supposed to do.

 

The coughing and not starting when the engine turns over suggests you should probably focus on a general tune up as Kernow mentioned above.  Go through the complete tune up process for the valves and ignition system replacing any worn or suspect parts as you go.  If the engine still refuses to start after doing that, tip a thimble of gas down the carb throat and try to start the engine.  If it fires to life and dies or has difficulty maintaining an idle, look for fuel related problems.

[Dusky]

Do you have enough fuel in the tank? And Are you using the choke enough? ( 2 simple, maybe stupid questions, but if it was bumpstarting I guess these should be right.. )

[GageHolding]

Update: checked the points, they look okay, changed the condenser as I had one laying around and it made little/no improvement.

 

Went through the haynes manual tracing system and tried getting a spark of the HT Leads onto the block, didn't seem very strong, tried the one from the coil onto the block and it was much more powerful, this leads me to believe its a problem in the distributor? 

 

 

 

Dusky: There's fuel in the tank, and I assume the rest is set up fine as the car runs okay once started, just can't get her to start!

 

Doug: Haven't done the engine tune, only have basic tools with me at uni/college!