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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Bad Solenoid?

Went out to start the midget and when I turned the key I got a "click" and then nothing, warning lights went out and gauges zeroed out. Tapped the solenoid and warning lights came on but as soon as I turned the key everything went out again. Made sure battery, solenoid, and coil connections were okay and still nothing.
I tried to "jump" the solenoid and still nothing. Before I order another solenoid is there something else I can try?
Thanks,
Bud
Bud K

How's the battery voltage?

Also check the battery ground cable where it attaches to the car body & frame.
Dave Rhine ('78 1500)

Bud. Turn on your headlights and sound the horn. Unless you get a loud sound from the horn, the problem is in the battery, wires, or connections. Your symptoms are most commonly associated with corrosion build up between the battery terminals and battery terminal clamps. Remove the clamps, clean both surfaces, and reinstall the clamps, then check to see what is happening. As Dave notes, the very first step is to check the battery voltage at the battery terminals (not on the clamps) where you should find between 12.5 and 13.0 volts if the battery is fully charged.

Les
Les Bengtson

Les, you're absolutely right, I just assumed battery clamps had been checked & cleaned.

But, as they say about the word assume...it makes an ASS out of U and ME!

;)
Dave Rhine ('78 1500)

If that isn't a knackered battery then President Bush is the best thing that ever happened to the world. :)
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Yep, battery was my first thought...
Dave Rhine ('78 1500)

what Les says plus check the water levels on all cells, fill with ironised(?) water if required and with battery disconnect put it on a charger to see if it needs it

If you can take the battery out as it's easier to see what's what and with the battery full disconnected and out of the car there's less risk of accidental arking with tools

If the battery is low just because it's old then replace asap a good battery is so cheap for these cars and a bad battery will at some piont let you down when it's least convient

Flat or faulty battery is still the most common cause of of AA call outs
Nigel Atkins

Nige I think you will find it requires DE-ionised water! :) more commonly refered to as distilled water
Bob Turbo Midget England

And yes Nige the most common cause of AA call outs is due to people running heaps of scrap that are poorly maintained and thus push the price of membership up for those few that use the service as it was originally devised. Not unlike every other insurance service. :)
Bob Turbo Midget England

De-ironised thanks Bob that sounds better, I must have misheard my wife's reply to my question "what was that water called that you used to put in the iron?"

and it was distilled I was thinking of but I just couldn't get it into my goldfish memory and will forget this in a few moments and have to ask again

as for modern drivers not looking after their vehicles or knowing how to drive in anything but perfect conditions - well please don't get a grumpy old b*stard like me going on such subjects

however some people who make the effort of doing the checks may not have the experience of things like not just looking at battery connections but taking them off to check where you can't see

even experts can forget to check the obvious (I not an expert in anything by miles but I do forget to check the obvious sometimes)

A battery story, my ex-neighbour, a very old chap, worried that he needed to charge the battery on his old Austin Mini Metro every few weeks as he wasn't using it much

He was from the days when batteries weren't as good as they are now (he'd be over 100 if he was around today)

Once I found out I said I'd check and look after it for him - the battery was almost dry from the regular chargings but when I topped it up it went on to last a good few years more with very infrequent charges (just to satify my neighbours worries) until a new battery was need and I convinced him that the new battery wouldn't require any charging

I failed to convince him that the fridge didn't need defrosting every two weeks tho' and even when he got a self managing type he got the (internal) freezer box so iced up that it needed defosting thereby proving his point
Nigel Atkins

the solenoid is earthed too. Is that joint OK?
David Cox

Took the solenoid off, replaced 2 original connections and cleaned the rest, took battery terminals off and cleaned the posts,took starter connection off and cleaned,
took battery ground connection off at firewall and cleaned, put everything back together and the car started right up.

Bud
Bud K

LOL
Guess I am a big fan of Bush . LOL

I feel sick !
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Good job!
Dave Rhine ('78 1500)

This thread was discussed between 06/09/2010 and 08/09/2010

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