Solenoid Stuck at the petrol station !!

[ams]

Managed to get out for a nice run on Sat after weeks of naff weather. Needed to fill up on the way home after which jumped in turned the key and ziltch!!

Ignition oil brake lights on but not a peep from the starter. Slight tell tail sign as the warning lights dimmed slightly when the key turned to start position.

Now I'm blocking the centre isle of the forecourt so one of the nice petrol station girls gives me a hand to push the Stag back out of the way. ( Doesn't it make you feel proud) NOT..

Popped the bonnet and managed to get a large screwdriver through the gaps in the exhaust manafold and rest it against the starter solinoid. Then just gave it a swift tap. Turned the key and off she went.

The car is fitted with one of those high tourque starters by the previous owner and looks fairly new. Has anyone else had any problems with these units. I'm hoping this is a one off.. Fingers crossed.

Andy

[V Mad]

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I know someone who has had similartrouble with the new hi torque motors.

[Guest]

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Hi Andy, it may be a Stag prob and not a starter one, does your starter run through a relay ? if not it could be simply voltage drop, Wards do a kit that's quite cheap and dealswith the dreaded Stag "click". Martin.

[DJT]

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Andy,

Even with the new starter fitted, you probably still have the original connector block down by the chassis rail on that side. This lives in dirt and the contacts inside get corroded, giving high resistance. Result - click, nothing.

Pull it apart and give all the contacts a good clean. Reassemble with petroleum jelly or better still contact paste (can't remember the name offhand).

As Martin says, better to wire it through a relay.

Dave

[andy p]

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ams wrote:

Now I'm blocking the centre isle of the forecourt so one of the nice petrol station girls gives me a hand to push the Stag back out of the way.

Andy



one question



Did you get her phone number

[Tdm]

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I have got a High Torque Stater fitted & thought it would cure my "sticking" starter problems - but it did not. Get exactly the same problem as you but only occassionally.
I carry a crow bar in my boot to bash the starter with when the problem re-occurs.

[DJT]

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Terry wrote:

I have got a High Torque Stater fitted & thought it would cure my "sticking" starter problems - but it did not. Get exactly the same problem as you but only occassionally.
I carry a crow bar in my boot to bash the starter with when the problem re-occurs.

Hi Terry,

I suspect that this is NOT related directly to the starter. There are so many reports of 'Click-nothing' with the original starters,that if you (and Andy) are experiencing the same symptoms with new Hi-Torque startersit must be something else that is at fault. As above, check the connector block. That cured the problem on my previous Stag. Also check every electrical connection in the starter circuit.

I would also suspect the contacts within the ignition switch. I have seen these switches full of crystallised gunk which increases the electrical resistance, which is not good for a starter circuit.

If in doubt, wire the starter through a relay.

Dave

[richardthestag]

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When ever I got the old click nothing I found that holding the ignition key onto the start position for about 5 seconds prompted the starter to kick in.

I only used this as an emergency measure once as I reckon it will be seriously heating up something somewhere and I didn't fancy melting the loom.

To fix my click nothing I pulled the multiconnector apart that sits behind the starter motor, cleaned everything up and reconnected it.

No more click nothings for me.

[Stagdad]

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richardthestag wrote:

To fix my click nothing I pulled the multiconnector apart that sits behind the starter motor, cleaned everything up and reconnected it.

No more click nothings for me.

I think this is the same connector that caused my overdrive to not work due to corroded pins ,def worth a clean up.

Cheers Steve

[twitchiwobble]

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Dear DJT

Your reply has reminded me of something thatI have always been unclear about,

You said to apply petroleum jelly (Vaseline to me!) to the cleaned connector contacts.

Have I got it right that > petroleum jelly conducts electricity , but clear silicone grease does not ?

Also, what about general mineral grease ?, I ask because this is not something you can easily read about!

We used to use Conductive Grease at work (DML Devonport), but this was SILVER based and very expensive.

Hope you can clarify this for me,

[Guest]

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Hi Twitch, drown it in Waxoyle ! Vaseline works wellbut will eventuallydry out, silicone is not conductive and silver based compounds are rediculously expensive, it's taken 30 odd years to get to this state with no protection at all, waxoyle should last another 50 ! Martin.

[DJT]

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twitchiwobble wrote:

Dear DJT

Your reply has reminded me of something thatI have always been unclear about,

You said to apply petroleum jelly (Vaseline to me!) to the cleaned connector contacts.

Have I got it right that > petroleum jelly conducts electricity , but clear silicone grease does not ?

Also, what about general mineral grease ?, I ask because this is not something you can easily read about!

We used to use Conductive Grease at work (DML Devonport), but this was SILVER based and very expensive.

Hope you can clarify this for me,

Hi,

I think Martin has answered before me (I have been travelling North - back to work:X:X)

Vaseline is indeed Petroleum Jelly. This is a trade mark - other makes do exist (as they seem intent on saying in the media these days!). My Sister-in-Law used to work for Mothercare years ago. They brought out tubs of PJ and labelled them Vaseline. They had to be withdrawn from sale as the owners of the Vaseline name got shirty. We all ended up with several jars, which I am still using - purely for maintenance tasks, you understand :P.

Dave

[Arbman Al]

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DJT wrote:

twitchiwobble wrote:

Dear DJT

Your reply has reminded me of something thatI have always been unclear about,

You said to apply petroleum jelly (Vaseline to me!) to the cleaned connector contacts.

Have I got it right that > petroleum jelly conducts electricity , but clear silicone grease does not ?

Also, what about general mineral grease ?, I ask because this is not something you can easily read about!

We used to use Conductive Grease at work (DML Devonport), but this was SILVER based and very expensive.

Hope you can clarify this for me,

Hi,

I think Martin has answered before me (I have been travelling North - back to work:X:X)

Vaseline is indeed Petroleum Jelly. This is a trade mark - other makes do exist (as they seem intent on saying in the media these days!). My Sister-in-Law used to work for Mothercare years ago. They brought out tubs of PJ and labelled them Vaseline. They had to be withdrawn from sale as the owners of the Vaseline name got shirty. We all ended up with several jars, which I am still using - purely for maintenance tasks, you understand :P.

Dave

Of course Dave, we believe you!!

How long are you on those rigs for at a time??:P

[Guest]

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Co-incidence or what ? In the Texas oilfields in the 1890s it was noticed that well head workers, while suffering more injuries, healed much faster than other workers, and with almost no infections, it was the crude oil getting on them, guess what's in crude oil ? Martin.

[DJT]

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Arbman Al wrote:

Of course Dave, we believe you!!

How long are you on those rigs for at a time??:P

Not long enough, fortunately :P.

Dave