No Click No Start

[v8stag]

Hi Everyone,
I'm new to the forum, but I've been trying to read all the previous forum posts, but havn't got any closer to fixing it I'm afraid. So I hope someone might be able to help.

This is all to do with my Dads Stag, so I will copy and paste his detail on the problem here:

I have a 1978 Stag that the starter Motor has stoped working,

It has two small wires that go to the solenoid that is attached to the main starter motor. when the ignition key is turned the solenoid makes no sound at all.

When I checked the voltage on one of the thin wires to the solenoid it showed 6v when the key was turned to start.

I do not think that my stag has a ballast resistor to drop the voltage to 6v but even if it has I believe that the wire from the ignition switch should be 12v and the other thin wire from the solenoid, boosts the voltage back to the coil to assist with the starting, is this correct?

If the voltage from the ignition switch should be 12v does anyone know if it is likly to be the ingniotion switch itself or a bad connection somewhere else.

I am contemplating running a 12v wire from the battery to the solenoid to see if the car springs into life, can anyone tell me which of the two small wires I should it connect it to?

I've uploaded a couple of photos here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B251FU__w4s1dFVwRkU1ZkhkTWM/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B251FU__w4s1SlJSTEZZYklQQm8/view?usp=sharing

Theres a few pieces off the engine at the moment, but here's a photos

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B251FU__w4s1c3JETktxY01Zbnc/view?usp=sharing

(no sign of a ballast switch?)

Many thanks for all your help
Dave

[Mark Shutt]

the ballast switch is actually in the wiring loom if a later mk2. if it's an automatic the white/red wire should go to the inhibitor switch on gearbox so make sure everything is OK there.. I would start by putting a direct 12v feed to solenoid to make sure that's OK (jump from main starter wire)

[marshman]

If it has an automatic gearbox, then it could be the inhibitor switch. Work the gear selector back and forth a few times to exercise the switch, then leave in park.. then see if it works. On cars with a bw35 gearbox, usually pre 1976 iirc, the switch is accessible via a small cover on the passengr side transmission tunnel.
Roger

[davidf]

And if it isn't an auto box, the wiring still goes to the gearbox loom connector. You will see a loop-back wire on the gearbox side of the connector.
A common problem is a poor connection in this multi-pin connector.

[V Mad]

Forget the smaller boost terminal for a moment. The thicker of the two small wires carries the 12v to the solenoid. If that doesnt feed the full 12v to it under load, then something is wrong in that circuit, such as ignition switch, or dirty connector. As you say a bypass wire will soon confirm the fault.

[milothedog]

Forget the smaller boost terminal for a moment

. The thicker of the two small wires carries the 12v to the solenoid. If that doesnt feed the full 12v to it under load, then something is wrong in that circuit, such as ignition switch, or dirty connector. As you say a bypass wire will soon confirm the fault.

Wasn't there a debate about that, and using the wrong terminology

Back on topic, have you checked to see if the starter has got stuck in. Try turning the engine backwards and forwards a bit. then try it again, best done with a stilson on the crank pulley. KISIS

Ian

[v8stag]

Hi everyone, thanks for hte replies. I can confirm its a MK2 with a manual gearbox.

The other weel, we had tried rocking the car back and forth (trying to free off a potential stuck starter) but no joy.

We'll try to put a 12v feed straight to it today and see if it clicks. If it is a bad feed, we will try to locate the wiring you all have described!

Post back with an update later
Thanks again
Dave

[V Mad]

It is a boost. IT IS A BOOST. IT IS A BOOST!!!!!

[KOY 23]

Must be a full moon, or medication needs to be increased

[milothedog]

It is a boost. IT IS A BOOST. IT IS A BOOST!!!!!

So something getting 12 volts originally then runs through a resistor is given 12 volts again to return it to the original voltage so the bypass circuit is a boost circuit

[V Mad]

More like:- Coil gets double the current when starter is cranking. Double the current means 4 times the spark
energy. But then you'd know that Ian being trained and qualified and all that.

[Jeff]

More like:- Coil gets double the current when starter is cranking. Double the current means 4 times the spark
energy. But then you'd know that Ian being trained and qualified and all that.

Oooh take that slap in the face Ian, handbags at 40 paces!

[milothedog]

More like:- Coil gets double the current when starter is cranking. Double the current means 4 times the spark
energy. But then you'd know that Ian being

trained and qualified and all that.

Head and Nail Chris . Stick to what I know, and am trained and qualified to do rather than trying to be a jack of all trades


Ian