1.9 8v Won't Start (again)

[humanz 3]

Ok, my car won't start. It started earlier today and ran for about 15min. Then ran it hard so that the second fan cut in. I let the temperature drop back to normal, then switched the car off. Since then, it won't restart. All I got was click, click, click. Tried the relay trick and wired in a relay straight to the solenoid, but I'm still getting clicks (albeit much louder).

 

I'm thinking that if it were a spark or fuelling issue, the starter would at least turn over, or I'd hear something other than 'click'. Is that a fair assumption? When I get a free hand, I'll test to see if I'm getting spark, but my mind (based on my limited knowledge) is telling me that it's not likely the source of my current problem.

 

My next step will be to remove the starter from the car and clean up the electrical connection between the solenoid and the starter itself and see if there's any change.

 

Really, just want to know if I'm right in assuming it's not likely a fuel or spark issue. Cheers.

[large 33]

Have you tried bump starting the car? If not that would be my first port of call.

 

Also you could try giving the starter motor a good wack.

Edited January 30, 2011 by large

[dumbiron 0]

Have you tried bump starting the car? If not that would be my first port of call.

 

or another battery (known to be fully charged)

[Anthony 1,003]

Won't be a fueling or spark issue if it doesn't turn over.

 

Is the battery charged and are the earth and positive connections good on both the battery and gearbox/starter?

[humanz 3]

There isn't much room in my driveway to try to bumpstart the car, and I'm afraid that if I push it on the hill I live on, it still might not start and then I'll have to get it towed back up the hill. (Small concern I know). Haven't entirely ruled it out.

 

As far as I know the earths and positive connections are good. Thinking about the earths tho, one of them is connected to the battery tray. Maybe I can try another spot on the wing to ground that one (Any suggestions? Strut tower?). Currently have the battery grounded to the engine block, gearbox and the battery tray, good thick 4 gauge cable. I'll go over the positive connections again, but I don't understand voltage drop testing enough to be sure I'm doing it right anyhow.

 

The battery is charged and is reading close to 12+ V on my analog multimeter. The first time the car started, the battery had been reading a steady 14V while the engine was running. Will try a known good battery anyhow.

 

I'll let you know how things go.

[tomcolinjones 26]

its not a starting problem you have ( for now) it is a turning over problem that sounds like a nak'd starter or battery

[SurGie 54]

Or a knackered stater wire that goes from the ignition barrel to the starter motor, it happened to mine years ago and is known as a common fault, so i replaced the whole length of the wire.

[humanz 3]

Or a knackered stater wire that goes from the ignition barrel to the starter motor, it happened to mine years ago and is known as a common fault, so i replaced the whole length of the wire.

 

I wanted to replace the wire, but because of how I ran the wires from the ignition barrel I didn't really have access to the wires. So I used the relay trick instead. The solenoid is getting power, but as the others have pointed out, it would seem either the battery doesn't have enough power to run the actual motor, or the motor itself is knackered.

 

It's raining here so haven't swapped the battery just yet...

[humanz 3]

Small update: swapped known good battery. Still only clicking.

 

I've removed the starter and I've cleaned up the connection points on the starter with a wire brush. I'll put it back on the car and see how it goes. As it is right now, it looks like i'm going to be in the market for a starter.

[Matt205 14]

I would expected a refurbed starter to sort it out.

[humanz 3]

Well, cleaned up the connections (yes, I did that the first time I had installed the starter a few months ago) and guess what? She lives!

 

Fired up right away. Disconnected the battery, reconnected and fired up again! So success, it would seem. Will try again tomorrow after I've sorted out a new problem I've created. (the spring on the throttle housing fell out and I couldn't quite remember how to put it back in Will check the Haynes on that and correct my error. Will let u all know if my problems return in the short term. Cheers!