Startin a s111 with a spanner!?

Right this is a weird one, i have just been given another series 3 as a project to get going and through its mot. it hadnt been started for about 3 years but after a morning tinkering the old girl came back to life and runs sweet as a nut. Only problem is now when i turn the key nothing happens (all the ignition lights come on but nothign else happens) its as if there is no power gettin to the starter motor but then if i bridge the gap between the solenoid and the starter motor with a spanner so it makes a spark and then turn the key after that it starts fine!? just wondering what this is beacuase of?

this is a tricky one - ave you got the swivel pre load set correctly ?

Woooooooooosssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhh me Sean.

i assume it's all set up correctly, i had it runing and starting fine and then after a couple of days this just started happening!?

gowan have a guess yourself as to whats wrong - you said the starter works when you bridge the solenoid ?

there is a clue in the above comment

so you think i have it constantly bridged it would be ok, i dont want it to fek it up though!? i was thinking maybe an earth needs a clean or somethin?

At the risk of falling for a wind up, the answer that is staring you in the face here is replace the solenoid

before buying or even thinking of putting another starter on check no/1 fuse if thats ok go to next step check for power coming in to fuse box if it is get a tester and check the wire from the fuse box to the starter if you havnt got a tester get a piece of wire long enough to reach the starter from the fuse box connect 1 end to fuse box and othe end to starter and try it,the problem you have is a bad connection it could even be a bad connection on the starter, send me an e mail and i will return a wiring diagram bac to you regards jim

i dont think its the solenoid i replaced the whole starter/solenoid lump, will try the wiring, cheers jim! (dont know why people have to be sarcy!! just say the answer im looking for!!!!! )

i know how you feel mate in 1 ear out the other is best thats y i go for private emails m8 any probs give me a shout

this has been the sort of high quality thread that other forums just cannot match

hyland770 said:

i dont think its the solenoid i replaced the whole starter/solenoid lump, will try the wiring, cheers jim! (dont know why people have to be sarcy!! just say the answer im looking for!!!!! )

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think the answer is you need tough nipples on this site

did i mention that once that once the engine has been running the starter works fine like normal, hence why i think its not the solenoid otherwise it wouldnt wanna start even if it had been run.

hyland770 said:

did i mention that once that once the engine has been running the starter works fine like normal, hence why i think its not the solenoid otherwise it wouldnt wanna start even if it had been run.

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I've had a problem with the solenoid not actuating when the battery is a bit low. Just after you've run the engine, the battery has been charged so is at higher voltage. I'm thinking that perhaps the solonoid is not earthed properly, so its not working when the battery is a bit low.

ermmmm think you need to read up on what the STARTER solinod does.

why dont you tell us then!?...

the clues are it the name

do u know why it runs after u started it now???

that was really interesting thanks for posting!!!