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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Stuck Starter motor I think

Hi I am new on here but have owned a Frogeye for four years now which is not use that often only 20 miles from last years MOT battery is fine conditioned over the winter but starter will not turn I think its stuck could this be the bendix gear. It need to go for the MOT in the next two weeks so I have opened the garage door!
K A Smith

Hi I am new on here but have owned a Frogeye for four years now which is not use that often only 20 miles from last years MOT battery is fine conditioned over the winter but starter will not turn I think its stuck could this be the bendix gear. It needs to go for the MOT in the next two weeks so I have opened the garage door!




K A Smith

Hi

Try putting the car in a forward gear and gently rocking it backwards. If the starter is jammed you should hear the click as it releases

Regards
S G Macfarlane

As you try the starter can you hear the solenoid operating, you should hear a definite click. The other way to release the starter if it's stuck is on the back end of the motor should be a square protrusion, it may be covered by a rubber cap, get a small spanner on this and turn it clockwise.

Bob
R.A Davis

Hi mate there are a few tests you can do to determine the problem

The very first is to put the lights on and try to start the engine. Do the lights dim significantly when trying? If they do then likely as not the battery is poor.

If the lights remain constant then you need to check further

Under the bonnet there is a starter solenoid. On the rear of it are 2 large connections. try shorting across these with a heavy screw driver and report what happens.
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Two very nice cars. Obviously the Sprite is the more desirable of the two, one this forum anyway :)
Greg H

Thanks for all the comments so far I will report back in due course probably not today, must take family out for lunch. Sold the roadster not log ago and replace it with this.


K A Smith

My mate's got a couple of those, in fact the SE followed my midget today as we went for a run and a couple of halves on and to Rutland's finest

roof seals and rubber gear links spring to mind 9don't mess with the rubber gear links unless you really, really have to)
Nigel Atkins

Nice Midget Nigel how long have you had it, I almost bought one of those a couple of years ago. My Lotous only has 19,237 miles from new on the clock it came from a collection and has been very well locked after I have not yet done a 1,000 miles and have owned it over a year. I am itching to get the sprite back on the road now the weather is better.
K A Smith

Hi KA, had this Midget coming up to 4 years now, longest I’ve ever owned a car

Thanks for the compliment but a photo can tell a thousand lies, the grey wheels were my idea though and suit the (old man’s) dark red

The photo was taken by a car fan who knows me and is by far the best I have of my car, not that I have many

Your Elan probably hasn’t experienced the leaking roof seals or misted up rear number plate compartment

1,000 miles and 20 miles – you really, really must get out more with the cars certainly the Sprite will run better with at least 3,000 miles a year on it – if you need help with the mileage on it just let me know
Nigel Atkins

Hi everyone update on the frog had it going today only just had the time to play around with it all the problems pointed to the starter motor so I will get this changed ASAP then rebuild the old one as a spare.

Hope you are all out and about in your cars in this good weather. Many thanks for all the tipsand happy motoring to you all.

K A Smith

This thread was discussed between 03/04/2011 and 17/04/2011

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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