ELECTRICAL PROBLEM HELP

[POORCARDEALER]

1960s Saloon

Starts first click of key when cold, no issues...leave running 5 minutes, turn off...when trying to restart there is nothing, I get ignition lights on dash but no clicking or trying to start, zilch....was sure it was a starter selenoid fault, swopped for a new one but the same. If i go back to it in an hour it will start.

Any ideas, driving me mad

[Faust66]

Bit more information might help: what car is it, what engine variant is fitted?

As you are getting dash lights but no engine starting, the issue is probably with the battery or ignition switch.

Try a new battery? If it's knackered it might just hold enough charge for the initial start. Easiest thing to check - either run a multi-meter over the terminals or just swap it one you know is good.

If the engine is not even attempting to turn over, have you checked the live/ignition live feeds at the ignition switch? They might be breaking down which would possibly explain the issue.

Are you sure a dodgy old immobilizer has not been fitted? It may well cause issues if so.

[N5 NRO]

I know that TVR Chimaeras suffer from a "hot start" issue - in that case, it is due to a wire for the starter motor being mounted too close to the exhaust (I think). After running for a while, the resistance in the wire was too high and meant that not enough current could pass through to start the car.

Good luck!

[Huntsman]

Does the starter solenoid have a manual button on it? what happens if you squeeze that?

Will it start on the handle?

[Slidingpillar]

Smacks of an earth fault. Go through all the connections and earth lead, checking, cleaning and using a conductive grease on the joints.

[POORCARDEALER]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Car Humber Snipe

2.2 engine

Deffo not the battery

No button to press on the new part....if I power the starter directly it works

Will spend a bit more time on it tomorrow, with a friend who has more idea than me!

[auto1]

Slidingpillar said:

Smacks of an earth fault. Go through all the connections and earth lead, checking, cleaning and using a conductive grease on the joints.

^^^^^ This

[V8 FOU]

More likely a duff point on the commutator on the starter. When it won't go, turn the starter shaft a few degrees on the square end and see if that works.

[TooMany2cvs]

POORCARDEALER said:

No button to press on the new part....if I power the starter directly it works

So it's a separate solenoid? And if you bypass it, the starter works?

Solenoid, then. Easy to double-check. Test for continuity across it as you put power to it. If there isn't any, then it's dead.

[Ozzie Dave]

I had the same issue on a 7, put an earth strap on the engine to chassis, inlet to chassis and the problem never happened again the the 5 years I had the car.
I even ended up putting one on the gearbox. learnt you can never have enough good quality earth straps!

[POORCARDEALER]

Success!

Put a new selenoid on, same problem.

Checked and cleaned earths to body with a bit of sandpaper and grease as advised and all good now.

Thank you for the replies

[Huntsman]

Glad its fixed.

TooMany2cvs said:

Solenoid, then. Easy to double-check. Test for continuity across it as you put power to it. If there isn't any, then it's dead.

You have to be a little bit careful with that, just because you get continuity does not mean the resistance is low enough to allow sufficient current required.

[TooMany2cvs]

Huntsman said:

Glad its fixed.

TooMany2cvs said:

Solenoid, then. Easy to double-check. Test for continuity across it as you put power to it. If there isn't any, then it's dead.

You have to be a little bit careful with that, just because you get continuity does not mean the resistance is low enough to allow sufficient current required.

Sure. But if there's none, then it's definitely fubar.

[Faust66]

Glad it's sorted... easy (and cheap!) fixes are always best.