baldygit

Member

• Monday at 13:53

• #1

Hi. Went to start the truck to go back to work and on turning the key BIG cloud of black smoke from under the bonnet! On inspection found earth wire from starter solenoid to chassis melted! Would this be caused by sticking solenoid? Have ordered replacement but wont arrive till end of the week 'cos of bank holidays!!

 

kermit_rr

Very

Full Member

• Monday at 14:01

• #2

What truck was it? DAF?

 

baldygit

Member

• Monday at 14:05

• #3

He He He!

 

freelance

Well-Known Member

• Monday at 22:20

• #4

Bad connection to chassis or starter motor shorting out internally

 

baldygit

Member

• Tuesday at 08:56

• #5

Thanks for that. The solenoid is separate from the starter. I have replaced the starter 18 months ago so hoping that's ok! I wonder if the solenoid is earthing properly to the chassis? When the 'melting' happened I firstly disconnected the battery and heard the solenoid clunk! That's why I wondered if the plunger had stuck closed?

 

steve2286w

Well-Known Member

• Tuesday at 09:18

• #6

Did it actually turn the engine over when you tried to start it.
Worth cleaning up all live and earth connections on engine, chassis starter and solenoid to shiny bright.
Can you remove solenoid, disassemble, clean and bench test

 

baldygit

Member

• Tuesday at 18:21

• #7

I've cleaned earths to shiny bright and tested continuity. All seems good. Strap to starter nice and tight. Will fit new unit once I have it. The old one is only about 2 years old but for £20 it's worth changing! Landrover's great when he's working but a real pain when not as I rely on it every day.

 

tottot

Well-Known Member

• Tuesday at 19:05

• #8

Check that the little wire from ignition switch to the starter solenoid is not live all the time due to ignition switch or wire fault.

 

baldygit

Member

• Tuesday at 19:09

• #9

Will do in the morning... many thanks for any help

 

baldygit

Member

• Yesterday at 17:48

• #10

Well, spent all afternoon making sure earths are ok, renewed solenoid, replaced starter motor but still the same problem!! Finally earthed engine to negative side of battery using jump lead and at least it started ok and got me to work. Earth wire still getting warm though. Anyway have ordered extra earth strap and will fix from gearbox to chassis at the weekend and maybe fit a higher rating earth wire?

 

tottot

Well-Known Member

• Yesterday at 18:11

• #11

On my series I have the main earth strap direct from battery to engine block [ thought it was a bit silly just bolted to batt holder leg.] Wire needs to be at least the same diameter as the positive line I recon.

 

A

Anaconda

Well-Known Member

• Yesterday at 19:22

• #12

tottot said:

On my series I have the main earth strap direct from battery to engine block [ thought it was a bit silly just bolted to batt holder leg.] Wire needs to be at least the same diameter as the positive line I recon.

Click to expand...

We had the main earth to the block and the headlamp panel and another from starter to chassis leg, might even had one from the gearbox somewhere.

 

baldygit

Member

• Yesterday at 19:23

• #13

That sounds like a better idea. Where on the block did you attach?

 

A

Anaconda

Well-Known Member

• Yesterday at 19:24

• #14

Can't remember, any large bolt on the battery side of the engine, engine mount maybe?

 

tottot

Well-Known Member

• Yesterday at 19:37

• #15

baldygit said:

That sounds like a better idea. Where on the block did you attach?

Click to expand...

Timing chain housing bolt nearest the batt I think.

 

baldygit

Member

• Today at 08:53

• #16

That's really helpful, many thanks. I'll measure up and get some hefty cable and do the same