6 replies to this topic

[Lacuna]

Model: City
Year: 1992
Description of problem:
When I try to start him in the morning or when leaving work I turn the key to the right and can see the engine lights (red and orange ones on the bottom of the fuel gauge) come on and then a single click (I think this is the starter motor clicking) but nothing further and then the lights go out as well and do not come back on. I have been resolving this by getting my boyfriend out behind the car to give him a push start but I think I need a more permanent solution Once he is running he goes great for the entire drive, it's just cold starting him that he doesn't want to go.

Can anyone tell me what bits I should be checking to figure this out? The battery is brand new so I do not think it is that... and I have checked the fan belt and it seems pretty tight.

~ Lacuna

[Mephiston]

the alternator could be at fault

there are a number of things

check your earth cable is properly secured and smear some copper grease on it to make sure it has a good connection to the body

and also it could be the new battery - hopefully it came with a garuntee - go to the place you baught it from and ask for a replacement - but try the above first

[lrostoke]

Does sound more like a bad connection like mentioned above.

Earths is the common one, on the battery and also the engine to bulkhead earth connection.

Also check the connection were the main battery cable connects to the solenoid on the top of the starter motor, make sure they are tight

[dklawson]

You said the red ignition warning light comes on, you also said this happens almost every morning.

1) Does the red light "go out" after the engine starts?
2) Do you have any accessories installed on the car?
3) If you want to drive the car during the day, does it start normally without being pushed?

The red light should go out when when alternator is charging. Checking the grounds and the connections to/from the alternator certainly might help. However, another possibility is that you have some component that is draining the battery every night.

[Lacuna]

Thank you for all of your suggestions.

I have checked everything listed above and the engine earth one looks pretty frayed. I found one on Mini Spares:
Mini Spares Engine Earth Link
but my current one looks a lot bulkier than the one pictured. I have a 1992 City and the Earth connection runs alongside the engine steady on the left. Is the one in the link going to be ok for me?

~ Lacuna

[Lacuna]

Sorry for the bump but does no one know why my engine earth lead would be substantially bulkier than the one pictured in the link above?

[lrostoke]

Its possible that somebodys changed it at some stage, maybe for one off another car, when we rebuilt our last project we took one off another model while we were hunting round the local scrapyard.

That cable youve linked to will be fine

Edited by lrostoke, 03 September 2008 - 10:32 AM.