11 replies to this topic

[Other-car-is-a-1275GT]

1986 City E - 998cc

 

Wondering if anyone can give me clarification here.

 

So, the engine isn't turning over, I've checked the following;

- Battery & Earth connections

- Connections on starter and solenoid

- Voltage at the solenoid

- Internal wiring inside the car

- Main Fuses

 

Both lights (orange & red) are lit.

 

I've pulled out the starter motor and replaced it as well as the battery. I then pulled off the starter relay found a fair bit of corrosion, cleaned it up, put it back together. NOW the relay clicks when turning the key to position 3 but nothing happens with the starter motor. 

 

Busted starter relay? 

 

Cheers,

Adam

[carbon]

Was the starter motor working before you took it out?

[Other-car-is-a-1275GT]

It was working 3 weeks ago. Today was the first time starting it since then.

[carbon]

OK, it is just possible you might have trapped the insulating sleeve at the end of the cable going from solenoid to the starter where it is connected to the starter motor.

 

There's a right angle terminal at the end of the cable from the starter solenoid which bolts onto the starter motor terminal with a 1/4 inch post and 7/16 nut. This cable terminal has an insulation sleeve on it, if the sleeve moves towards the terminal it can get trapped between the cable terminal and the starter motor post and cause poor or no connection.

 

I've had this in the past, symptom was very slow starter motor with thin plume of smoke rising from the starter motor post. Cut back sleeve 1/4 inch and everything back to normal.

[ukcooper]

Changed the starter ring it might be a different starter you need as it is not matching and just jammingor sized engine 

[Other-car-is-a-1275GT]

Checked the sleeves, nothing in the way. The +ve solenoid goes washer, terminal, washer, terminal then nut and has a reading of 12 ish volts from memory.  IMG_1911418.JPG   78.58K   5 downloads

I also checked the continuity of the solenoid connectors (+ve & -ve) all seems fine. I also checked the continuity from the starter relay plug (one cable) to the solenoid and thats fine too. 

 

The starter motor is out of the car, so there is no issue with it jamming. 

Attached Files

•  IMG_1906422.JPG   75.06K   6 downloads

[Ethel]

If it's out you will be able to see the solenoid move the pinion gear, the motor shouldn't spin until the gear has travelled all the way to engage the ring gear. When it does, it connects the battery and motor cables by bridging the 2 threaded posts on the inside.

 

Give the pinion a lever (without the battery connected) and see if it moves freely. If it does, check for continuity/resistance between the 2 posts when it's  pulled fully in.

[carbon]

Time for some more multimeter checks...

 

First check is on starter solenoid terminal wich goes to starter. Does this give 12V when solenoid is energised?

[Other-car-is-a-1275GT]

Ethel, Pinion moves freely, continuity between the two points shown on the image

 IMG_1906422 - Copy.JPG   46.57K   7 downloads

 

Carbon, There is 12v on the solenoid

 

Adam

[Ethel]

I meant between the the 2 screw terminals with nuts. If you measured between the motor screw terminal and the actuating spade terminal coil have proved the solenoid coil conducts. It's a start  beginning. Now, can the solenoid move the pinion and bridge the contacts under the screw terminals? If the screw terminals are bridged does the motor spin?

 

You can bench test this with the battery and jump leads:

 

+ve on spade, -Ve on post (as your arrows) should move the solenoid.

 

+ve on the arrowed screw terminal, -ve on the casing should spin the motor.

 

+ve on the battery terminal, -ve on the casing and a jumper from +ve to the spade should make the motor operate fullly.

[KernowCooper]

I was then going to say bench test it, thats going to prove its the starter or the cars wiring. let us know the out come

[Other-car-is-a-1275GT]

I went over everything again, I realised that the starter uses the engine as an earth... So, threw it in the car, started first time!

 

Proved my own stupidity but learnt something along the way!

 

Thank you to all that helped. :)

 

Adam