Hot start mod blown fuse

[JonathanT]

Tidied up the mess of wiring in the passenger footwell last night then went out for a spin - everything fine.

This morning, tried to start the car - I think I just about heard the starter motor turn then nothing. Turns out the 20A fuse on the hot start mod is blown. Any ideas why this would be?

Having replaced the 20A fuse I now only get a click and nothing from the starter motor itself. The car seems to go through the usual process: ignition on, fuel pump primes, ignition to start, click, but then nothing.

I've got the battery on charge to see if it's because it's low, but I'd have expected even just one chug before giving up. Is there anything else I should check?

[FlipFlopGriff]

Any of the wires come out? The one into the relay block is suspect as just pushes in and would be easy to knock loose/out.
FFG

[David Beer]

If the earth wire fell out it would not blow the fuse. You will be looking for a short to earth on the heavy red cable from the relay.

[JonathanT]

I'll have a poke around the big fuse in the footwell later tonight. Is it possible that the solenoid in the starter motor has suddenly died (even though I can hear it clicking)?

I don't believe that any wires have fallen out, as I can now hear the starter solenoid energizing, but I recheck all the connections....

Edited by JonathanT on Wednesday 30th July 12:58

[m4rk]

JonathanT said:

I'll have a poke around the big fuse in the footwell later tonight. Is it possible that the solenoid in the starter motor has suddenly died (even though I can hear it clicking)?

I don't believe that any wires have fallen out, as I can now hear the starter solenoid energizing, but I recheck all the connections....

Edited by JonathanT on Wednesday 30th July 12:58

Had the same happen to my Chim. The starter soleneoid appeared to be a dead short blowing hot start fuse. Replaced starter motor assembly and not had a problem since.

[JonathanT]

hmmm. that may help to explain why the new 20A fuse is sagging looking like it's ready to blow... sigh
Mark, was your starter motor assembly clicking (like if you had a flat battery) too?

Where/what is a good starter motor to get?

Edited by JonathanT on Wednesday 30th July 16:38

Edited by JonathanT on Wednesday 30th July 17:01

[m4rk]

It started with a clicking and after few tries it would start. Starter motor was about 12 years old when problems began. Over time it got worse until it was completely dead leaving me stranded.

After the first occasion I replaced the starter motor with a refurb unit. This looked like my old unit with a new starter solenoid. It lasted six months before before same symptoms returned

I then tried the DB hot start kit; which didn't fix the clicking and difficult starting problem. Eventually the starter motor was totally dead again and it also kept repeatedly blowing the hot start 20a fuse. This time I replaced the starter assembly with a new Unipoint starter motor I got from the parts dealer around the corner from the TVR factory. Bevingtons, tel: [phone] I was advised by TVR to go there and they can post it out too. Unipoint part no STR-2228 for pre serp V8. This has been great so far in the few months I have had it. It spins the engine much faster than the old starter motor ever did.

OT

I used to live a few miles away fromTVR and Bevingtons and so my mother picked up the motor from the shop and carried it in her hand luggage on a flight over to Austria where I now live. She got stopped by airport security,,,, they let her on with it eventually. She had trouble explaining what it was until a male security guy recognised it for what it was!!



Also OT.

D.B. If you read this can you please send to my Austria address the heat shrink you promised. I have not had any replies from you to recent emails! Thanks, Mark.

Edited by m4rk on Wednesday 30th July 19:55

[JonathanT]

Thanks for the info Mark. The wiring that I can see looks ok and the new 20A fuse has blown again after trying to start a few more times. Looks like my Chim is going on the back of a low loader (it's outside my comfort zone now).

[JonathanT]

well, that's a result. Mr RAC came out this morning and had a fiddle and hammer and poke around and found that the main feed to the starter motor was broken. He's made me a new connection and hopefully it's all sorted now.

I'm very happy!

[Flintstone]

JonathanT said:

well, that's a result. Mr RAC came out this morning and had a fiddle and hammer and poke around and found that the main feed to the starter motor was broken. He's made me a new connection and hopefully it's all sorted now.

I'm very happy!

See?

You just weren't trying


Glad it's fixed.