6 replies to this topic

[chris_gilly]

right im not sure which one is to fault and dont have access to a multimeter.... anyway i charged my battery lastnight overnight.... i put it in the car this morning and i try to turn it over anyway all i get is a clicking noise....... so i fiddle round making sure everything works (its a project and im unsure if the batterys any good at all) anyway after about 5mins the battery dies so it doesnt even try to turn over now... is it the battery or starter or both??

thanks for your help

[gav]

The clicking is the starter relay, sounds like you dont have enough power, take the plugs out and try and turn it over.

[chris_gilly]

The clicking is the starter relay, sounds like you dont have enough power, take the plugs out and try and turn it over.

the engine ive just rebuilt and you can turn it over by hand at the alternator easily... i suspected the battery to be dead...as its sounds like the solinoid is trying to activate the starter....

so its worth getting a new battery then?

[OzBeast]

The clicking is the starter relay, sounds like you dont have enough power, take the plugs out and try and turn it over.

the engine ive just rebuilt and you can turn it over by hand at the alternator easily... i suspected the battery to be dead...as its sounds like the solinoid is trying to activate the starter....

so its worth getting a new battery then?

I had a similar problem a week ago. The mechanic bloke that came fixed it in about 3 minutes by loosening off the bolt at the dizzy end of the starter motor. I thought he was kidding but no probs. Kicked over straight away. You will need a 3/8 spanner. Turn it towards the engine block (from above - ie clockwise - until you hear/feel a slight click in the nut. Then try to start

Good luck!

[chris_gilly]

ok thanks ill do that!!!
although i do think its the battery.... as its conked out!! thanks!!

[dklawson]

I have no idea what your mechanic did to "loosen" anything on the starter motor. The inertia starters have a square output shaft that points towards the dizzy. If the starter is jammed you can turn that to disengage the Bendix unit from the ring gear. Perhaps that's what he did, but it's not really loosening anything.

The clicking that fades out to nothing sounds more like a flat battery. The battery may be dead, OR if you took a while to rebuild your engine, it may simply have lost its charge. If the battery is more than about 3 years old, consider replacing it. However, there is no harm in putting it on a charger over night (low amp setting) to see if it will take a charge and be useful for a bit longer.

[Dan]

Almost every time I've come across a Mini with a solenoid that just clicks, the cause was a bad battery earth. Slacken off and re-tighten the body bolt of the battery earth. It's secured to a floating captive nut under the boot floor and road dirt gets stuck round it over time, giving a poor connection. Giving it a shuffle like this clears it out. Also check the condition of the strap itself, any fraying or broken cores will reduce its ability to carry current.