12 replies to this topic

[kaney]

Hi guys,
Been a while since i last posted here.

A couple of weeks ago the starter solenoid packed up, so we bought and fitted a new one.

After fitting it, the car seemed to try and start itself (without the key in the ignition). But then stopped, and it hasn't been a problem since (must have been about 4 weeks or so now).

But last night i went out to find the mini trying to start itself again, and by the time i could disconnect any leads the battery had died.
After charging the battery, we tried to find the source of the problem, and the only way we could get it to start by itself was by 'wiggling' the solenoid.

Is this some kind of earthing problem? or A dodgy solenoid? or something else ...like maybe its been possessed? lol.

Cheers
Kane

[nomininolife]

Is your solenoid on the inner wing or on top of the starter?

David

[kaney]

Is your solenoid on the inner wing or on top of the starter?

David

its on the inner wing

[Jordie]

Kane me old mucka.

Have a look at your solenoid, in between the 2 threaded bars on the top, is there a button?

Jordie

[kaney]

Kane me old mucka.

Have a look at your solenoid, in between the 2 threaded bars on the top, is there a button?

Jordie

Hey jordie!!

Whats the button for?

There isnt a button as such on mine, but there is a little black thing sticking up.

[Timtom]

Youve got a ghost car!

[il-barba]

anyone ever heard of KITT from knight rider......

[kaney]

more like herbie! lol

[Jordie]

some of the solenoids had buttons which u could press to crank the engine.

Most have a black blanking cap which sticks up. I was just thinking if u had the button type it could be sticking/loose etc.

Did you wire it up right when you changed it?

You have an ign wire to the small pin on the side.

the black wire to starter is closest to the wing

i believe all the others connect to the postive side (other terminal, furthest from wing)

Jordie

[kaney]

ah ok,

yeah im (fairly) sure its wired up right, as i said its not been a problem apart from those two times.

just wondered if there was any reason that it might try and start when you jiggle the solenoid about.

dont want to go and buy another one if its just a dodgy connection lol.

Earth strap for the battery is almost breaking too so thats not going to be helping things but im replacing that later today.

Edited by |Kane^|, 03 March 2007 - 01:07 PM.

[Dan]

The solenoid is basically the same as the one which fires off a doorbell. Does the doorbell ring if you jiggle it about? There's a big bar of iron inside it which is heavy. The bar is moved magnetically when you close the ignition switch and it closes the contact for the starter as it moves. If you shake it about the bar will move.

If it's trying to fire off even when you don't jiggle it though then it is in need of replacing. Well, either the solenoid or the ignition switch is. Something has broken down internally and is shorting the solenoid. I'm guessing it's not the ignition switch because if it were there's a good chance it would be supplying the ignition as well as the solenoid and so the car would actually be able to start. Because your car has the remote solenoid it probably has a fairly basic starting system with no relays so there's nothing else to go wrong really apart from the solenoid and switch (what year is it?). Unless it's an auto but then I don't think the inhibitor switch could possibly cause this.

Make sure the top of the solenoid is clean in case it is dirt and muck and water causing it to short, if it is clean then try a new solenoid. Not all new parts actually work, especially small parts like this from Lucas so it could well be broken.

[Jordie]

Spoke to him eariler, he replaced the solenoid and all is well.

[kaney]

Yeah as jordie says we took it back and they replaced it for free.

We figured if it was something to do with the ignition then when the car was trying to turn over, it should have started, but it didnt.
So the only other way we could see the solenoid being activated, is if there was a fault inside.

Now we've replaced it. So far so good.

Thanks everyone