For months and months I've had an intermittent earthing problem which only affects the starter motor.
I've replaced no end of parts in the early days thinking it was the battery, starter motor etc.. all of which sorted the problem temporarily but not for long.
Several members said it was an earthing problem so I had the main earth strap off and cleaned it and all its mounting points and hey, it worked no problem at all for a while then it came back again.
I gave up until now when having just finished the engine re-build (following the blown head gasket), all now back in car and today I thought (confidently) I should hitch up the power firstly to turn it over with no ignition connected to get plenty of oil circulating connected battery but nothing, just a click!
Undid and re-did the earth strap again and we had power, turned over with a build up to just short of 80 psi so seems ok (!).
Still not got the exhausts on or but I just had to have a go with ignition to see if it would start - you know the slight sense of trepidation and the "am I sure I have done it all properly" knowing full well I have!
Turned the key and click - bugger!'So I get the earth jump lead and connect that to the battery and t'other end to the block, turn the key and first spark it fires up - flippin brilliant and very loud!
So I get back in and order a new earth strap from Paddock's having decided there must be something wrong with this plain piece of braided metal although what could go wrong..?
An hour later I took the damn thing off and as I undid it I just realised that the engine end of the strap was a tiny bit loose, obviously the solder had worn away and clearly contact was very occasional.
If you ever get a starting problem, don't be a pr*t like me and replace all the big bits first - get an earth strap for £10 and save a load of time, money, anger............
Cheers,
I've replaced no end of parts in the early days thinking it was the battery, starter motor etc.. all of which sorted the problem temporarily but not for long.
Several members said it was an earthing problem so I had the main earth strap off and cleaned it and all its mounting points and hey, it worked no problem at all for a while then it came back again.
I gave up until now when having just finished the engine re-build (following the blown head gasket), all now back in car and today I thought (confidently) I should hitch up the power firstly to turn it over with no ignition connected to get plenty of oil circulating connected battery but nothing, just a click!
Undid and re-did the earth strap again and we had power, turned over with a build up to just short of 80 psi so seems ok (!).
Still not got the exhausts on or but I just had to have a go with ignition to see if it would start - you know the slight sense of trepidation and the "am I sure I have done it all properly" knowing full well I have!
Turned the key and click - bugger!'So I get the earth jump lead and connect that to the battery and t'other end to the block, turn the key and first spark it fires up - flippin brilliant and very loud!
So I get back in and order a new earth strap from Paddock's having decided there must be something wrong with this plain piece of braided metal although what could go wrong..?
An hour later I took the damn thing off and as I undid it I just realised that the engine end of the strap was a tiny bit loose, obviously the solder had worn away and clearly contact was very occasional.
If you ever get a starting problem, don't be a pr*t like me and replace all the big bits first - get an earth strap for £10 and save a load of time, money, anger............
Cheers,
Martin.
.
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