Silent mystery...

[V8Mad]

Head scratching time, out of ideas, so here I am...
Came home from trip out today in my '93 Chim. Park up, switch engine off. Half hour later, come to start it and I hear a grinding noise from starter. It's done this before when the starter solenoid wire came loose/off.
Jack the car up, look underneath and there it is dangling loose. Re-connect the wire to solenoid. Try to start - fuel pump primes - turn the key further, but nothing at all now, no grinding sound, just silence.
Battery is new and tested lights, all bright, so OK there...
Any ideas guys?
Thanks

[Discopotatoes]

V8Mad said:

Head scratching time, out of ideas, so here I am...
Came home from trip out today in my '93 Chim. Park up, switch engine off. Half hour later, come to start it and I hear a grinding noise from starter. It's done this before when the starter solenoid wire came loose/off.
Jack the car up, look underneath and there it is dangling loose. Re-connect the wire to solenoid. Try to start - fuel pump primes - turn the key further, but nothing at all now, no grinding sound, just silence.
Battery is new and tested lights, all bright, so OK there...
Any ideas guys?
Thanks

Fubared starter?

[Steve_D]

Sounds like you may have disturbed the start wire on the solenoid whilst tightening the main terminal.

Steve

[V8Mad]

The main terminal was fine, it was just the start wire which was loose...

[Discopotatoes]

V8Mad said:

The main terminal was fine, it was just the start wire which was loose...

test the solenoid with a live direct from the battery, obviously out of gear and don't short it

[V8Mad]

Discopotatoes said:

test the solenoid with a live direct from the battery, obviously out of gear and don't short it

Will give that a go tomorrow

[Pupp]

Immobiliser

[Discopotatoes]

Pupp said:

Immobiliser

doesn't that immobilise the fuel pump?

[ChilliWhizz]

I had this kind of problem, turns out the starter had seized, symptoms were same as battery going flat, cranking was slower each time I started it. New Bosch starter spun like a whirling dervish

[Steve_D]

Discopotatoes said:

Pupp said:

Immobiliser

doesn't that immobilise the fuel pump?

Immobiliser has two circuits. One cuts the pump second cuts the starter.

One of the circuits has a higher current rating and should have been used for the start circuit but TVR got it the wrong way round which is why they can burn out causing non start and often shows its first symptoms as hot start issues.

Steve

[Belle427]

The solenoid terminal is probably loose and not making a good connection, it should feel tight when you push it on and should not come off in normal operation.
You can usually pinch the terminal with a pair of pliers to close the gap a bit to tighten it.

[Jon100p]

Steve_D said:

Discopotatoes said:

Pupp said:

Immobiliser

doesn't that immobilise the fuel pump?

Immobiliser has two circuits. One cuts the pump second cuts the starter.

One of the circuits has a higher current rating and should have been used for the start circuit but TVR got it the wrong way round which is why they can burn out causing non start and often shows its first symptoms as hot start issues.

Steve

If it's a '93 with key door locks it will not have an immobiliser (not when new anyway)

[V8Mad]

Jon100p said:

If it's a '93 with key door locks it will not have an immobiliser (not when new anyway)

True - so can't be that then. The wire is now on securely, but no change. Fuel pump runs, but nothing when key is turned. Beginning to wonder if there's anything fuse related which might have gone? It's running over level crossings which have been the cause I suspect...

[s p a c e m a n]

Short the starter motor out with a rubber handled screwdriver, then you know that it has power and works.

[Discopotatoes]

V8Mad said:

Jon100p said:

If it's a '93 with key door locks it will not have an immobiliser (not when new anyway)

True - so can't be that then. The wire is now on securely, but no change. Fuel pump runs, but nothing when key is turned. Beginning to wonder if there's anything fuse related which might have gone? It's running over level crossings which have been the cause I suspect...

Did you try a wire direct from the big stud on the starter to the fire wire terminal?

[lancepar]

V8Mad said:

Head scratching time, out of ideas, so here I am...
Came home from trip out today in my '93 Chim. Park up, switch engine off. Half hour later, come to start it and I hear a grinding noise from starter. It's done this before when the starter solenoid wire came loose/off.
Jack the car up, look underneath and there it is dangling loose. Re-connect the wire to solenoid. Try to start - fuel pump primes - turn the key further, but nothing at all now, no grinding sound, just silence.
Battery is new and tested lights, all bright, so OK there...
Any ideas guys?
Thanks

Some starter motors only have the magnets glued in the case. Had a Valeo like this, started once with a grind then next time jammed in the rotor.