clive P62 said:
Hi rob
This must be driving you mad.
Thought of a couple of items that can give this fault and have come across.
1 apart from the 2 earth straps which i know your looking at.
2 main battery cable/starter motor connector post under front drivers side on floor,these over time work loose and get hot/melt and in some cases short out main battery cable.
3 Get battery tested correctly /may be starting to fail.
4 Starter motor may be drawing too much current leaving not enough current to coil.
5 Main positive terminal where wire crimps in becomes loose giving high resistance.
Hope this is some help.
Clive.
Sorry to be such a dunce but can you clarify some of these for me? I'd like to take a look at them all through these evenings as the electrician should be available at the weekend - so as much as I can do on my own I'd like to but it does mean working outside and in the dark so I always try to go in with as much knowledge as I can!
1) Is this the guy I'm looking for - or replacing - on the engine? A friend of mine's bringing me home some battery cable, ends, battery terminal and the big crimper to put it all together so I can make up whatever ones I need. Would it hurt to bang another one elsewhere on the engine as well?
2) I'm unsure what you mean by under front drivers side on floor - in the engine bay at the bottom? Do I just chase it from the starter motor til I find it? Or is it under/in the car?
3) Battery should be ok, it's very new. We also had it running from a big booster pack tonight, and then from the electrician's car, so I don't think power from the battery is the issue.
4) How would I check this?
5) Main positive terminal - I'm unsure what you mean by this - the positive terminal on the battery or elsewhere?
Sorry again to be such a nitwit - I've always been willing to get stuck in but before this car it's gone about as far as replacing brake pads, fitting exhausts, springs, coilovers, stereo equipment and so on. This car being so badly behaved has very much thrown me in at the deep end and I'm learning loads but I'm way out of my depth
I do always try and find the answers in my workshop manual as well but it's a bit vague and missing a fair bit of information. I must try and get hold of the Rover one, mine is an Autopress one.
And yes it does help! Really appreciate everyone's patience and sympathy!