Starter erratic

[hdavy]

Starter playing up. Will go click 2 or 3 times and then varoom good start. Plenty of juice- battery OK all connections clean and tight. Notice one of the tangs on the solenoid seems to have been soldered and shifts slightly. Think need new solenoid?

[simmitc]

Using a jump lead, short the two large terminals on the solenoid - be careful to not touch any other opart of the car, just the terminals. If the starter motor consistently works, then the solenoid is at fault. If the motor still plays up, then that needs replacement. If the solenoid has been bodged, then it might be a good idea to replace it anyway. Good luck.

[bmcecosse]

Surely the 'tangs' are on the leads attached to the solenoid - so fix the loose tang before worrying about the solenoid.

[hdavy]

What I call tangs are the bits sticking out of the side of the solenoid unit that the wires with their lucar connectors push onto. What would you call them as a matter of interest?

[bmcecosse]

Lucar male spade I suppose... But fix it/them anyway before worrying about the solenoid.....it's 'never' the solenoid... Oh and also check the solenoid body is securely fixed to the car body - it needs to be earthed.

[hdavy]

Changed solenoid- only £9 odd. Bingo! Problem solved. Will resolder 'male spade' ! as a spare. Regards

[tysonn]

And your reply Roy????????????

[chickenjohn]

Solenoids can fail as can coils. I've had to change a few.

[simmitc]

If you think about it, a solenoid is an electromagnet that consists, in part, of a coil of wire, whilst a coil is, er, a coil of wire. They may not be interchangeable, but the ability to fail is certainly common to both

[bmcecosse]

It obviously was the 'tang' that needs soldering! I'll say again - when I say it's 'never' the coil or the solenoid - obviously, just sometimes it IS ..... But it's just not the first thing to blindly renew ! Many a perfectly good coil (and probably solenoid) is binned needlessly.....