MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGB Technical - Starting problems

I have been having some fun and games with my '73 BGT recently with regards to starting. It was the usual turn on the ignition, listen to the fuel pump wind up etc and then turn the key to start. Click! No starter motor turning. Usually, it starts after the third or fourth attempt. I also noticed that she would run a bit rough so I thought, bad battery connection. I cleaned them all up including the earth strap to body and expected that to sort the problem. Nothing doing. Am a bit stuck now, because if it was just the starter not engaging then I might assume the solenoid, however, I am pretty sure that the rough running is linked to it somehow. I would appreciate any thoughts on the subject before I get stranded somewhere or am forced take it to a pro auto electrics garage. I would rather try and deal with it myself as it is all useful experience.
Many thanks
Paul
Paul Eades

First determine whether you are hearing the 'click' of the starter relay (just aft of the fusebox) or the 'clonk' of the solenoid. If the latter then it could be bad connections where the battery cable and brown wires from the alternator and rest of the cars electrics all bolt together on the solenoid stud. Remove the battery ground strap before working on these. If they are OK (clean lugs with emery cloth or coarse wet and dry/glasspaper and reassemble with copper grease) and it still happens then it could be solenoid contacts (some starters have the link between solenoid and motor with an exposed portion where you could test with a voltmeter) or motor brushes or windings.

If you just get the click then it could be relay contacts, solenoid winding, or connections between them. With the key turned to 'start' check for 12v on the brown and white/brown at the relay, and the white/brown at the solenoid - both connectors and spades. Bear in mind that pulling things around near a bad connection can cause the problem to disappear part way through diagnosis, only to reappear a few days later.

Bad connections at the solenoid could be the cause of rough running, if the tach is jumping up an down as well and other electrics flickering on and off, but could also be completely unrelated. Fix the non-starting first, then see what happens with the running and investigate that separately if it stil happens.
Paul Hunt 2

Many thanks Paul! I will check this out over the weekend if I don't get snowed in first!!!
cheers
Paul E.
Paul Eades

This thread was discussed on 22/11/2005

MG MGB Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGB Technical BBS is active now.