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MG MGA - CAR STARTER WON'T WORK

I had a problem on a road rally on Mon. The car worked fine the day before and even in the morning of the run. It got very hot as we went up the mountian and inland. When we stopped for a break and I went to restart the car it would not start. I pulled the starter cable and it did not even turn over slowly. Nonthing. The starter has been rebuilt and the windings re-wraped and the armature turned. The starter silonid was replaced at sometime in the past. When I pull the starter switch, I can see the fuel guage move to empty. The car runs great after I push start it or use the starter handle to get the car to run. What are your thoughts as to the problem and what steps should I take to id the problem and get it repaired. Post your thoughts. I have fixed the problem. I will post what I did to id the problem and fix it. Hope this will help someone in the future.
jeff becker

See MGB tech thread "starter problems-electrical"
FRM
FR Millmore

My guess is a bad connection- good enough to run but won't pass any amps to start.
gary starr

Fuel gauge goes to E when you pull the S switch indivates system voltage going near zero. This can be one of a few problems.
1.) Loose cable conenction with high resistancwe joint will not carry enough current to run tne starter.
2.) Failed battery will not produce high current.
3.) Short to ground on the high current circuit between the start switch and the starter. This draws maximum current from the battery causing voltage drop to near zero ar the start switch. This short is commonly caused by broken insulator pieces where the starter input connection post goes through the starter end plate.
Barney Gaylord

Anyone else want to guess?

Barney, you are one smart son of a gun!!!
Tomorrow I will tell all as to how I tested and confirmed the problem.
jeff becker

I guess #3.
Tom

Tom WRONG!!!. I took a portable battery and hooked it to the starter and ground to the engine..the starter turned over. I then pulled the starter switch and still nothing. I turned on the lights and they worked..I then pulled the starter switch and the lights went out when the system was under full load. The main clue was the fuel guage went to empty when I tried to start the car, The problem ....a bad battery. It didn't have a full 12v to start the car but enought power to run everything else. I am still happy to say that I have not bought a battery for this car in the past 26 years. That right...26 years. In 1980 when JC Penny had lifetime batteries, I bought one. If they only knew then that I would not be selling my car anytime soon. The man at the Firestone dealer who now take care of the exchanges for Penny's said he still gets about 3 a month. Other people with the same idea as me. I hope this will help someone in the future if they have the same problem as me. I was thinking of pulling the starter or changing the starter switch, but I worked thru the problem by elimating one item at a time.
jeff becker

Congrats on your new battery! Hell of a lot easier than pulling the starter.
Tom

This thread was discussed between 06/09/2006 and 09/09/2006

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