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MG MGA - Puzzled

I have a puzzling problem. My MGA wouldn't start yesterday. When I pulled the starter, all I got was "click, click, click, click". (many clicks) I checked battery cables and cable going to starter. All seemed good. Battery was fine. voltmeter showed just under 12v. I assumed the starter had gone bad.

Today, I tried getting the starter out of the car but could not. (longer story if I say why...just believe me). So now I need to make sure it would start by pushing so I could drive it to a shop next week.

With the wife's help, we pushed it and it started right up as I expected. I parked it in the garage to wait for Monday.

Later on, I was in the garage and, for the heck of it, I got in the car, turned the key, pulled the starter and it started right up. Same thing happened a number of times throughout the day. It started every time. No problem.


Does anyone have an idea what the issue is? I still think 'starter motor' but I don't know. I don't want to do nothing because there definitely is something amiss. I don't want to get stuck somewhere.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Pat

Pat10

Hi

Maybe the starter pinion was stuck on the shaft and was freed up when you started it. A good clean of the front end of the starter motor should fix it. The other alternative is the battery unable to supply the necessary power, if it is old it might need replacing. Check volts when trying to start the car.

Barry
B Bridgens

Where did you measure the battery voltage? Was it directly off the posts, the terminals, or somewhere else?

You will only get a true reading directly off the posts, as you are eliminating any possible resistance in connectors.

Voltage should be at least 12.5 volts. Yours sounds a bit low. As Barry says, measure the voltage whilst cranking. It shouldn’t drop below 10v, ideally.
Dave O'Neill 2

Weak battery I suspect. Check you charging circuit. Test by jump starting off another car with a good battery next time it happens, if it starts okay off a jump start, it is your battery or the charging system.
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

One thing against the testing by jump starting off another car with a good battery is that often the other good battery isn't good even if it's thought to be.

A number of times I've been told the battery is "good" and they weren't, they weren't fully charged or in good condition.

Having the battery posts clean and the post clamps clean and fully secure makes a big difference to starting, as does having the cables, wires and earths all in good condition and clean and secure.

Best testing for the battery on old cars is load testing and you can get testers for this or built in to some battery chargers (they also check the alternator).

I'm not a fan of cheap modern digital meters as they soon go off but if checked against a known item they can give an idea. The static test should be carried out as already said by Dave but only if the car and battery have been rested for a few hours to give a proper reading.

Figures from my neighbour's Ring battery charger/tester. -

12.7v - 100%
12.5v - 90%
12.4v - 80%
12.3V - 70%
12.2v - 60%
12.1v - 50%
11.9v - 40%
11.8v - 30%
11.6v - 20%
11.3v - 10%
Nigel Atkins

A failing starter motor will often have "dead spots" on the windings. I've experienced this both on our MGA and a '73 Chevy.

Whacking the starter motor with a wrench handle while your mate tries to start will usually work in an emergency.

If that is the case, a rebuild or replacement is the only cure.

- Ken
KR Doris

Check the starter switch. Although it may seem strange, it may appear that it works but it does not work. Make a bridge with the cables and see what happens. If it's the starter switch buy the best one.
Gabriel Martínez

Following on from Gabriel's comment. They do deteriorate. I suffered similar issues a long while back. I took the old one (original era date stamped on it) apart and the photo shows what I found. Arcing burns, carbon build up and general poor contact points.

As an aside, I eventually went the pre-engaged starter route and the problem went away. The switch only takes a small loading to the starter solenoid. The main starter motor is connected directly to the the battery lead.

Steve


Steve Gyles

This thread was discussed between 17/10/2021 and 27/10/2021

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