Starter Wires

wwfc_1974 · Post by **wwfc_1974** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 12:46 pm

Not too clever when it comes to electrics, so can anyone help with the following problem. When I turn the key I get a clicking sound from the starter motor, on which I have the following connections.

1) Main battery cable (red) + Thick brown wire from ignition + 2 other brown wires from ignition to main connection on starter. (These were connected to the old solenoid)

2) Red/White wire from ignition to spade connector on starter.

3) Earth cable from starter mounting bolt to chassis. (Also earth from battery to chassis and another earth from block to chassis)

Question is, There is another smaller spade type connector on the back of the starter, does this require a wire to the coil + or is the starter faulty.

Any help would be most appreciated.

ChrisJC · Post by **ChrisJC** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 1:21 pm

I'd go for faulty starter. Just check all the wires are secure before ditching it though.

Chris.

ian.stewart · Post by **ian.stewart** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 1:21 pm

Can be a couple of things, two favorates, Power or earth leads are too small, or loose/not clean contacts to earth or power, or the battery is low on power or too small for the application.
Ian

wwfc_1974 · Post by **wwfc_1974** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 1:32 pm

also forgot to mention, that since I had to relocate the battery under passenger seat I had to join two main battery power cables together to reach, could this be a problem ???

ian.stewart · Post by **ian.stewart** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 1:47 pm

Every join in a circuit has the potential to increase resistance. run a single GOOD quality wire, specifically for car electrics.
Ian

LazyDocker · Post by **LazyDocker** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 10:37 pm

Was it fine after relocating the battery? Is the battery good? And, not wating to seach you to suck eggs, have you tried giving the starter a 'tap' with a hammer??
Then... Yep, check all connections and minimise joins!

wwfc_1974 · Post by **wwfc_1974** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 8:03 am

The battery has been sitting in my garage for five months while I changed engines but gave it a good charge up before fitting back in. The starter I don`t know about as i`ve not heard engine running. Was planning to give it a tap next time I tried it before taking it out. Where I am confused is the electrical diagram in the Haynes manual shows a wire from the starter to the coil, I havn`t got one of these. Also I have wired up everything that was left from the old 4 cyl engine but am not too sure if I am missing something I should have (if you get my meaning)

Chris

landy_v8 · Post by **landy_v8** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 9:36 am

The wire from the starter to the coil is for ballasted ignition. The coil would normally run at 9v being fed through a ballast resistor. During starting a 12v feed from the starter would bypass the ballast resistor and give the coil a "boost" to help starting.

If you have fitted a ballasted coil you will need the resistor and the extra wire, if you have a 12v coil (sometimes refered to as an electronic ignition coil on landrovers) you can forget it.

Re your starter problems, get hold of the starter cable from a 2.25 diesel. They are bloody thick and nearly 4 foot long. Fit a good sized earth from the battery to the chassis and one from either the chassis to the engine/gearbox or battery to engine/gearbox.

A good way to check for earth problems is to use a decent jump lead and use it to connect the neg terminal to the engine/gearbox.

I had a similar problem on mine which after pulling the starter motor off and running a quick test turned out to be a weak selonoid.

Is that tixover in the background of your avatar?

Jon

wwfc_1974 · Post by **wwfc_1974** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 11:02 am

Jon, understand the ballast resistor bit but what do they look like and where would I get one from ?
Re-fitted the series coil but I do have the RR one that came loose with the engine, would it be better to fit the latter one and ballast resistor. Will re-check all earths this weekend (bit dark when I get home in the week).
As for the picture, those are very sharp eyes you have, yes it was the adventure club training day I sent the girlfriend on to boost her confidence.

regards
Chris

landy_v8 · Post by **landy_v8** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 4:16 pm

It looks something like this:

John Craddocks have them at £8.72+vat here:

http://www.johncraddockltd.co.uk/produc ... tno=134176

I have spent a fair bit of time at tixover marshalling events and generally getting muddy so spotted its particular colour of sandstone straight away.

Jon

wwfc_1974 · Post by **wwfc_1974** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:02 am

Thanks for the info. Know what you mean about the sand, still can`t get it all off my drive and I havn`t been there for six months.

Chris

wwfc_1974 · Post by **wwfc_1974** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 4:24 pm

just a quick thank you to you all, it was the starter after all !

chris

Eliot · Post by **Eliot** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 4:52 pm

wwfc_1974 wrote:Thanks for the info. Know what you mean about the sand, still can`t get it all off my drive and I havn`t been there for six months.

Chris

Ive only been to tixover once several years ago and can still see the mud underneath the car - you could probably market it as some sort of wonder goo that protects your chassis and never comes off!