21 replies to this topic

[eden7842]

hey all

my car is having trouble starting, the solonoid keeps clicking big time, then it will turn a couple laps and back to the clicking.

Its NOT the battery, so what could it be?

timing?

starter relay thing?

thanks

[mymini007]

How is it turning, when it does, Fast or slow? If its slow and sluggish Could be a bad earth.

[eden7842]

its pretty fast, i was wondering if the starter relay was playing up could that cause the solonoid not to engage properly?

possibly not sent enough voltage to the solonid?

[mymini007]

its pretty fast, i was wondering if the starter relay was playing up could that cause the solonoid not to engage properly?

possibly not sent enough voltage to the solonid?

Could be. doesn't sound like an earth. Or it could be the starter. Start with the cheapest options first.

[The-Womble]

Could just be a faulty solenoid (only a few quid to replace). Also check that the battery connections in the boot are on tight.

I had this same problem with my car and a combo of a new solenoid and drilling a small hole into the top of the positive terminal on the battery and sticking a screw through the +ve connector into the hole to prevent it jumping off or not having enough contact to provide a big enough current.

[eden7842]

ive swapped the starter too one which i know works and it had the same problem.

when i had it running, it would click, turn, click, turn then start and run fine. and since then it rapidly got worse.

its running off jump leads, as there no battry main cable yet, so the neg is on a head stud.

any more ideas?

thanks

[clambert81]

Have you checked that the solenoid and starter motor connections are thoroughly clean, as it sounds like there is not enough "Juice" getting through to the starter

[eden7842]

yeah, its got the positive jump lead straight on the starter. so there plenty of juice there

[obiwan riley]

try bumping it and seeing if it keeps running, if not then its not the starter. sounds like a blocked fuel line in the midst, probably all the crap settled due to cold (just an idea )

Edited by obiwan riley, 12 January 2010 - 06:06 PM.

[eden7842]

try bumping it and seeing if it keeps running, if not then its not the starter. sounds like a blocked fuel line in the midst, probably all the crap settled due to cold (just an idea )

Its had all new fuel lines fitted, and it has an electric pump.

Its definetley not a fuelling problem as it would just turn over freely and not fire.

Bumping wont really rule out whether its a starter or timing fault either to be honest.

Think i'm gonna clean the connections on the starter relay or perhaps borrow a mates and see how it goes.

[Scruffs]

You could try pulling the relay out giving it 12V manually to see if the relay's shot?

If the grille's off then jamming a screwdriver between solenoid main terminal and feed from relay would prolly be easier...

I had this problem a couple of months back and it was because I located the relay in what basically turned out to be a puddle of water

Edited by Scruffs, 12 January 2010 - 06:32 PM.

[WiredbyWilson]

Is the car totally standard??

I have a very similar problem with mine, but it is due to my static advance being set quite high to get the best tune out of my engine. Mine goes fast then slows just before it fires up. But the other day it kept locking up on the starter - which resulted in only getting the clunk of the solenoid throwing out.

Solution is to put it in gear and rock the car to free the ring gear from the starter.

(I too tried a brand new starter, new battery, new earths all clean etc only to have same prob - is just a quirk of my mini now i guess.)

Wilson

[eden7842]

im going to try bridging the solonoid to start it see if it turns properly then,

the engine is pretty much standard, just a cam and skimmed head.

thanks for the advice all

[carthy79]

yes sounds most likely to be the starter. Have a closer insepction of the starter connections, if the starter motor is shafted and your supplying lots of juice when jumping it then there maybe some slight evidence of burning on the connections. Just a thought

[eden7842]

ive just turned it over by bridging the solonoid and it turned perfectly, so i think its got to be the relay thing.

does anyone know what it is called so i can order one?

thanks