205wrc 16 Posted March 31, 2007 For the last few weeks, my car has been giving me trouble starting. Its a 1986 (D reg) 1.6 GTi. Sometimes the starter would just click, other times it would make like a grinding noise as if it was trying to start, but would'nt. Last Sunday, I took the starter out of the car in order to fit my spare one, that had the spade connector on the solenoid broken off. So..........I took a fairly new solenoid off a diesel starter that I lying in the garage, and fitted it onto the spare GTi starter that I had off an E reg model. SO far so good !! I fitted the starter back in the car on wednesday night, connected all the wiring back up (including an earth wire I had left off the gearbox by mistake when I fitted my new box back in) and went to try to start it. The battery had been on charge for two days, so everything should fire up...............WRONG. As soon as I turned the ignition key the fuel pump cut in, and would not switch off until I turned the ignition off. It's never done this before - it usually starts for a few seconds and goes off. When I turned the key further, to start the car, the oil light went off on the dash and the interior lights went dim. I tried maybe ten times and in the end gave up and went to bed. I had a look at it tonight after coming home from work only to find that the solenoid, throttle cable, oil filler pipe, the battery cable coming from the + side of the battery to the starter and alternator, the small wire that goes onto the solenoid, the wires for the oil pressure gauge and the throttle position switch had all MELTED !!!! Lucky the damn thing did'nt catch fire as it was parked fairly close to the house - or even worse - it could have been in the garage Does anybody have any idea what could have gone wrong. Any help will be most appreciated Thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
richard 0 Posted March 31, 2007 Thats looking like a earth short somewhere. (a real sod to fix too) As for which cable has caused it i cant tell you (possibly the solenoid spade has broken and touched the block, inlet manifold. but yes you are very lucky on all three accounts, car, house and garage! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
welshpug 1,666 Posted March 31, 2007 (edited) sounds like the solenoid jammed and you left it there with power still running through it. Edited March 31, 2007 by welshpug Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
