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MG TD TF 1500 - Faulty Starter Switch?

I have been having difficulty starting my TD.
I replaced the starter last summer and battery this spring.

When attempting to start it, starter motor turns but starter motor sounds weak very quickly. I know I have spark and fuel because sometimes it does start.

With new starter motor and new battery what is left? The starter switch looks like it is original. What are the chances that the switch is bad?

Any other ideas?

Mark Sherman
Mark Sherman

Yeah, keep a trickle charge on that puppy.

John
John Redman

Hi Mark, is the generator charging?

Check the battery with a hydrometer as well.

Cheers,

Paul.
Paul van Gool

mark, check all of you cables and connections in the starter circuit. high current draw during a start can heat up bad/corroded connections and cables. if you suspect the starter switch you can bypass the switch with a auto jumper cable and see what happens. check your cables/connections first. regards, tom
tm peterson

I have found that grounding issues are a frequent cause of a slow starter. Check that the ground from the body to the engine is connected and clean it so that there is good contact.

Bruce Cunha

Hi Mark.

I had this problem a few years ago. It would turn over well a couple times and then slow down dramatically. It was even worse when restarting when hot. The problem was with the starter. I put in another starter and all worked perfectly. My starter was not new like yours, but new products are not always perfect. Don't count it out as a cause. Tim
Tim Mayor

After you operate the starter, feel each connection in the circuit,including the cable ends and starter and feel the switch housing. Also the battery connections. If there is heat anywhere that will locate the defective connection the other guys have been talking about.
Regards, Richard
R Payne

Yes, check and clean all of the connections. I did this and still had problems. I replaced my starter switch with one from Moss and have had no problems since. It seems to be a well made reproduction.

With 50 years of corrosion and wear it just wore out.

Larry
L Ayres

Chances are very high the switch is fried. Test w/jumper cables (carefully) and that will tell the tale. The switch is just a copper disk attached to the shaft, that contacts a copper contact on each side to complete the circuit. Every time you use it, is sparks and burns and corroded. I took one of my dying ones apart and it was totally fried. George
George Butz

These switches were trouble from day one, especially if the engine didn't start right away and the starter was held in for awhile. The original switches had a black rubber diaphragm type boot around the pull shaft. This would catch on fire, and as it was right by the carbs and fuel pump, it caused some excitement.
Dallas Congleton

Prize goes to: Tim Mayor, Manitoba, Canada.
Looks like the "rebuilt" starter was NG.

I ordered a new starter switch from Moss this morning.
Before it arrived I did some more investigating.

I disconnected the new ("rebuilt" from Moss) starter and wired it up to my battery charger (set to charge/start).
Just got a hummmmmm.

Replaced the starter and it started right up!

Mark Sherman
Mark Sherman

This thread was discussed between 24/07/2006 and 25/07/2006

MG TD TF 1500 index

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