11 replies to this topic

[urbantricker]

Hi,

My car was working fine for about 5 months until the clutch was starting to go, so because I need my car for work I bought a new one to get me round in whilst I sorted my mini. I put my mini in the garden for about 5 days and then when I came back to start it, it wouldnt start. When I try to start it nothing happens, the ignition lights come on and I have tried the lights, indicators etc and they all work.

Usually I would get my brother to try and sort this, but I would really like to try and sort the problem myself, we were able to get the car to start by hot wiring it so I know its not the starter motor, I am just looking for any suggestions of what I should do.

Thanks a lot,

Ian

[miniboo]

check/charge the battery sounds the most obvious to me.

might be enough power for light etc but not enough to turn the starter

[urbantricker]

Well we were able to hot wire it and it started fine, so the battery must be charged.

Any other suggesstions anyone?

[pikey7]

well, whatever you eliminated from the circuit when you "hotwired" it must be faulty or have faulty connections.

[clarks.2006]

Possibly something wrong with the ignition then? Are you sure your brother didn't just bridge the starter solenoid to get it started?

[syholl]

Whereabouts did you hot wire it. If it was at the ignition barrel, then this is probably faulty. If you did it at the solenoid then this has to be the suspect. Can't be difficult to trace....

[urbantricker]

Are you sure your brother didn't just bridge the starter solenoid to get it started?

He may have done, it wasnt at the ignition, it was something in the engine which I am guessing is the solenoid. He just touched a wire on 2 screws, any ideas..?

[pikey7]

sounds like the solenoid.(and it sounds like you need an alarm! )

[urbantricker]

So you think a new solenoid should do the trick. And, what exactly does it do? I am trying to learn as I go. I know a solenoid make a magnetic field with a current, but what does this do in a car?

Cheers,

Ian

[Purple Tom]

A solenoid is just another word for a relay. Basically its designed to handle big currents, whilst using a small switch to operate it. This saves having loads of huge wiring going through the car, and is also safer as you haven't got huge currents going everywhere.

So when you activate the ignition switch, you energise the circuit which opens the solenoid. This is turn connects the battery to the starter, and the starter turns.

Someone can probably explain that a lot better than me!

(so when your brother pressed the screwdriver between 2 screws he was removing the ignition switch from the circuit - it sounds like either the switch itself or the wiring is faulty)

[pikey7]

what year is your car?

There are two types of solenoid. One on later cars which is a cylinder on top of the starter motor (for which generally you have to replace the whole motor) and one which is mounted on the wing.

Bascially, they are just big relays. They are switched on by the ignition switch, then route power directly from the battery to the motor to crank it.

[urbantricker]

minis84, cheers for that explanation.

my car is a b reg, and i think it has a solenoid mounted on the wing, it is definately not on the starter motor.