Car won't start!

Phil Robson

Phil Robson

Well-Known Member
Excuse me for being thick, but my P6 V8 will not start. It can be 'bump' started (ie: pushed & releasing the clutch) but will not start with a turn of the key. It happened a while ago, then seemed to be OK the next time I went to it :? , but this time it keeps refusing to start.

When the key is turned there is one click every time but nothing else. I've tried jump starting & a known good new battery, but neither work. My starter doesn't have a protruding shaft at the end so I can't try turning it with a spanner.

This is probably a simple one for many of you, but solenoids, relays, starters etc are not my strong point! :(
 
Sometimes you can give the solenoid on the starter a tap with a hammer and it will then un-stick itself for a while
 
DaveHerns said:
Sometimes you can give the solenoid on the starter a tap with a hammer and it will then un-stick itself for a while
Click to expand...

That's a good place to start (excuse the pun!) and even if it doesn't work at least you'll have had the satisfaction of hitting something with a hammer. That always make me feel better. Don't go too mad though.

After that I'd see if you're getting a switched supply to the solenoid when you operate the key. Depending on the outcome of that you can either work onwards through the solenoid & motor, or backwards through the wiring, relay and ignition switch.
 
Phil Robson said:
...no - that's not connected at all! :LOL:
Click to expand...

Oh well, just a thought!

Well, maybe it's time for you to get rid of the old crate. I will take it off your hands! :LOL:

On our old 2000Auto, we had a similar problem, and found the wire that operated the solenoid had come off! :-S Not saying that is what's wrong with yours, though!

Probably would be worth checking the starter relay (that switches power to the wire that operates your solenoid) before/as well as the starter.
 
Try bypassing the starter relay and see what happens. If the car starts, you know that the problem is the relay. If with bypassing the starter relay you can just hear the starter solenoid clicking, just as when you turn the key, but the starter motor does not run, then the fault is within the starter motor itself. Probably just the brushes are worn out and don't make contact all the time.
If by bypassing the starter relay the solenoid does not click, then the problem is within the solenoid. Also a starter out job. Just make sure though that power will actually reach the starter solenoid before you start dismantling things.

I hope that this helps...
 
Sorted! - thanks for your help guys. :D

It was the lead between the solenoid & starter motor being loose!

I must repeat....'always try the simple things first, always try th....' :roll:
 
Phil Robson said:
Sorted! - thanks for your help guys. :D

It was the lead between the solenoid & starter motor being loose!

I must repeat....'always try the simple things first, always try th....' :roll:
Click to expand...

Glad to hear it!

If I may ask, do you mean the heavy gauge lead that conducts the heavy starting current into the main motor body, or the thinner wire that operates the solenoid, like ours suffered from?
 
darth sidious said:
Not the <brake fluid reservoir (not) earthing the starter relay> problem, is it?
Click to expand...

I just thought I'd let you guys know that since staring work on my Tobacco Leaf V8, I have been starting her by connecting a cable direct from the battery to the wire which runs from the starter relay to the solenoid. I thought the ignition switch was broken. Have been studying wiring diagrams for weeks, and swapping bits between cars (relays, starter motors, batteries) to no avail. I just read the above post and the penny suddenly dropped - the master cylinder and servo are off the car, the fluid reservoir is empty of course, and the wires are all disconnected. I just went out (yes - 9:30 at night) and connected the starter relay terminal to earth, and she started on the ignition switch first time.

I am speechless with gratitude - thank you so much.

I absolutely love this forum!

Steve
 
darth sidious said:
Not the <brake fluid reservoir (not) earthing the starter relay> problem, is it?
Click to expand...

Is that meant as some kind of safety feature so that you can't start it if the brake fluid is low?
 
testrider said:
Is that meant as some kind of safety feature so that you can't start it if the brake fluid is low?
Click to expand...

Sort of, it means that if the earth wire for the reservoir breaks so the low fluid level light doesn't work, it wont start, but AFAIK just pulling the connectors of the reservoir won't do the same thing because the earth for the starter relay and reservoir switch are joined through the Lucar on the reservoir cap connection, not inside the cap itself. It's still a very clever little system when you take that into account along with the pad warning light wires and the handbrake switch, which actually runs a test on the whole pad warning light system every time you put the handbrake on.
 
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