series 3 petrol starting issues

I know this has probably been covered before,
But I'm having starting problems with my landy.
She's been stood a few weeks and now won't start.
When I turn the key nothing happens but I can turn the lights, fan etc on.
I charged the battery but I don't have total faith in the charger I have.
I don't seem to be to find the starter solenoid though and the Haynes manual isn't particularly helpful.
It also failed to bump start.
Any help would be greatly appreciated
I will just tow it to the garage though if all fails as its going in for a few bits anyway.
Cheers

try whacking starter motor with summing

The starter solenoid is on the starter motor usually. The motor is the cylinder shaped object (about the size of a shortened 2litre bottle) at the back of the engine, on the passenger side. You should see heavy cables running to it. Some older solenoids had a manual button you could use (with caution) to start the engine. If you're not sure what you're doing, take it to the garage, as shorting out the connections can produce a nasty big spark that can burn.
Having said that, it's quite possible the ignition switch has failed, if it won't start with a push/tow. Does the ignition light come on?

On my S3 the solenoid wasn't on the starter, it was on LHS of the bay next to the dizzy (Have shorted my spanner on it many times whilst adjusting the dizzy!).

Could be a few things for you to check;

Is the battery 12.6v 12 hrs after charging?
Wiring to starter motor clean and intact?
Wiring to solenoid clean and intact?
Solenoid knackered?
Starter knackered?

Your ignition switch could be knackered too.

Try tapping the starter solenoid gently as they do seize. If it didnt start with a jump either, then you may find you have electronic ignition and your battery is too flat to power it? Not sure about that but its something to check. But as zeaphod points out, IGN switch is most likely as it won't bump or crank. Try bypassing it by hooking a hotwire from the solenoid fat red wire to the thin IGN wire which is not the one that goes to the coil!

ronsealdeath said:

On my S3 the solenoid wasn't on the starter, it was on LHS of the bay next to the dizzy (Have shorted my spanner on it many times whilst adjusting the dizzy!).

Click to expand...

+1 Usually mounted on the bulkhead

Cheers for the advice, I'll have a look in the morning. I did try tapping the starter as I heard they can jam.
I don't think there is any ignition light, don't remember seeing one on it. The wiring is a bit of a mess round the ignition barrel but I can't see anything that's unplugged.
I'd be tempted to have a good over haul of the wires and connectors but it'll be up for sale soon so there doesn't seem much point.
The battery I think has seen better days, even the parked light is quite faded. Should really invest in a decent charger. The central pickings stopped aswell so it might be a mixture of things. Got too many gizmos on it!

Check the nut and stud that clamps the wires to the solenoid. On mine the nut runs on a copper stud and the thread was partially stripped, allowing the nut to come loose and causing a break in the starter circuit due to loss of connection, leading to the exact same symptoms you have. Solution I had to use was run a die down it which means its a smaller thread but at least you can get the nut reasonably tight.

(This is on a 2.5 diesel by the way and I'm not sure if the 2.25 starters will be the same but sounds similar to my problem )

My lack of faith in my charger was justified, after looking at everything it could possibly be, a new battery sorted it out straight away

I am having similar issues with my Series 3 2.25 petrol. It has sat for several years (started when it was parked up) I have got a new battery, solenoid, checked the starter with my local garage, cleaned all the earths and all I get is a loud click and now smoke from the new solenoid.

All the connections are warm to the touch aswell! There is no attempt by the starter to turn. Any suggestions as I am ripping my hair out with this one.

Vilkieboy said:

I am having similar issues with my Series 3 2.25 petrol. It has sat for several years (started when it was parked up) I have got a new battery, solenoid, checked the starter with my local garage, cleaned all the earths and all I get is a loud click and now smoke from the new solenoid.

All the connections are warm to the touch aswell! There is no attempt by the starter to turn. Any suggestions as I am ripping my hair out with this one.

Click to expand...

Try bridging from battery to starter with a jump lead.

Old corroded thick cable can push the resistance way up.

I had an intermittent starting fault I chased for months until I changed the heavy duty cable to the starter

Cheers for that,

Will give that a go tomorrow night, hopefully it will work as I have been trying to solve this problem for weeks.

ok, just tried out blue beasty's recommendation, and.................................................still nothing but a click from the solenoid and some smoke!

Wasn't sure if I had to take the existing solenoid to starter lead off or not?? (I didn't)

Help....................please!.

Have you tried earthing direct from battery -ve to engine block with a jump lead?

Is the engine seized, will it turn by hand?

blue beasty said:

Have you tried earthing direct from battery -ve to engine block with a jump lead?

Is the engine seized, will it turn by hand?

Click to expand...

I can turn the engine with the handle, albeit it is hard going.

Similar problems with new to me series 3 petrol 2.25 , turns out that the not so cheap after market starter not up for job and ended up burning out the solenoid right back to the battery earth cable ,new Lucas solenoid bought used Lucas starter motor expected delivery today and hopefully fixed by next week

Davieinnes said:

Similar problems with new to me series 3 petrol 2.25 , turns out that the not so cheap after market starter not up for job and ended up burning out the solenoid right back to the battery earth cable ,new Lucas solenoid bought used Lucas starter motor expected delivery today and hopefully fixed by next week

Click to expand...

Be good to know how you get on with that.

Ok, changed the solenoid, ignition coil, checked the earths..............................still getting nothing but a big click!!!

Really at my wits end here.

Vilkieboy said:

Ok, changed the solenoid, ignition coil, checked the earths..............................still getting nothing but a big click!!!

Really at my wits end here.

Click to expand...

Have you put a jump lead from battery to starter? and/or one to main chassis earth ?

With issues like these I find it's always best to be methodical in solving the problem. Firstly is the battery ok? Next check all electrical connections for condition and integrity e.g. Are the earths ok? Are the other cables clean etc. You can test these with multimeter for conductivity and resistance. Next I would turn the ignition on and short across the solenoid terminals to rule out the solenoid. If that doesn't work take the starter motor off and bench test it. Using this sort of approach allows you to rule things out in a methodical way.

Been a while, but just finished testing the starter motor again, all good when bench tested. Tried taking a jump lead from the negative terminal straight onto the cylinder head............................nothing but a bloody click from the solenoid!!!!!!
Put a volt meter on the battery, all good, put the volt meter onto the solenoid, all good, put a volt meter onto the starter motor..........................nothing.

Beginning to wonder if the cable from solenoid to starter is knackered, I would b e surprised if this is the case. Has anyone else experienced this?