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MG MGB Technical - Turn key-click-no start!

Having trouble starting tmy MGBGT '74.5. Turn the key on get the fuel pump chatter then when I turn the key to start I here a click then nothing. I fiddle a bit with the Battery lead on positive terminal and I can get the fuel pump chatter then I turn the key and no start. Ocassionally I can get it to start but after several tries. Is this a battery terminal issue or?????????? Thanks! JOHN
JW Colson

Is the click from the relay (by fusebox) or solenoid?

If the relay then it's failing to oerate the solenoid, either because 12v (brown) to the relay contact is missing, or the contact is faulty and not extending the 12v to the brown/white, or the brown/white from relay to solenoid is detached or making a bad connection, or the solenoid winding is faulty.

If it's the solenoid you can hear clicking either its contact is bad, connection to the motor brush is bad, brushes are worn, or commutator is dirty.

In all these case the ignition warning light will stay bright. But if that is dimming right down or going out altogether then it is a bad connection at either of the battery terminals, where the battery ground strap bolts to the body, or where the battery cable and browns connect to the solenoid.
Paul Hunt 2

It is a high resistance in the heavy current starter cicuit, Battery, solenoid, earth strap on engine maybe the contacst in the solenoid themselves? One check that will confirm this is to put the headlights on then try to start, if the lights go out then that shows there is a volt drop somewhere. On my solenoid you can also push the plunger by hand, if this works and spins the engine then it is either in the solenoid itslef, or it is not getting swithched from the starter contact.
Stan Best

I had this problem too. I am ashamed to say that the only problem was that my battery was almost fully depleted.
Give the battery a full charge and see if that does it.
Matt
Matthew Bennett

If the battery is charged and there are no lose wires at the terminals, the starter should be checked.
Start at the relay and if it clicks, the connetions on the solenoid should be checked.
When everything seems o.k., the solenoid itself has a fault at the internal high current points.
It can be changed very easy but it also no real problem to soilder it off at the connections of it's coil and taken apart. You will see corroded and burned points at the backside of the threaded terminals that can be filed plane and cleand with a rotating wire brush in a Dremel tool.
It is not difficult and does only take minutes to do this repair, it is even faster than picking another starter or a new solenoid from a spare part dealer.

I have made this 'overhault' on my 1975 roadster some time ago and it works fine since then.

Ralph
Ralph

JW,check the connecter block that is located under the dash by the steering column inside the car and give the wires a little tug to make sure they are not frayed.
phil mcneil

*Definitely* not the connectors by the steering column, or you wouldn't even get a click (from the relay or solenoid).
Paul Hunt 2

This thread was discussed between 16/06/2007 and 18/06/2007

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