Morris Minor Owners Club

Maggie is very reliable. However, a month or so ago the battery was only giving me a couple of turns, if it didn't catch first time, it wouldn't go. .

It got worse, so after a couple of days relying on the handle , new battery time, problem sorted. Car's been fine since, like a dream.

However, Mrs E calls me from the station tonight, car won't start, totally dead, not even turning over. When I got there, it wouldn't even engage the solenoide, nor start on the handle . The lights weren't left on (had that "discussion"). It started fine this morning.

Tried a jump lead as an earth augmentation in case it was a poor engine earth, no better. It was odd, the lights on the dash were bright, the radio and interior light worked, but as soon as I turned it, it went very dead.

Jumped started it, drove home (2 miles max, probably 5 minutes in the car. OK, not far to walk but Mrs E has cold, and dodgy knees, and I'm not about to suggest walking as an alternative as we've already had the "you broke my car" argument )

car now starts fine, repeatedly, first time, no hesitation. Despite 2 miles not really being enough to boost a really really dead flat battery.

could it be a dodgy solenoide? Maybe clean the earth straps? Iffy starter? Or have I got a duff battery?

If it was the alternator I'd have thought it would go flat over a period of time, maybe steadily get worse at starting, but this is rather sudden.

Puzzled, but going to have a look tomorrow, any suggestions?

Andrew

Sounds very much like bad connections - take the terminals off the battery and clean them carefully and refit with smear of vaseline. Check connections at solenoid too and starter - and of course - check where the earth from the battery goes to the body.

mmm, I'll check and clean those tomorrow. A bit of emery, copperslip and vaseline and it'll be fine with a bit of luck.

Andrew

Dunno about the copperslip........

not even on the earthstrap bolts? I've used it before and it seems to do the job and keep everything protected and "unseized".

Do you not think it helps?

Oh it helps with non-seizure ok, just not too sure how good a conductor it is. 'Copper' suggests it will be good - but I really don't know - hence my comment!

yes, fair point you can never be sure how much copper there actually is in it.

I'd hate to make it worse through trying to make it better!

I'll try it and see.

Andrew

A quick update. The problem didn't re-occur until Friday afternoon, I was moving the car to wash it as I was about to set out for Newcastle that night.

I had cleaned all the connections etc. and there'd been no re-occurence until then.

It started on the handle, then later when I set off, was fine with the key. Very strange.

It then wouldn't start using the key at Woodall services (1/2 way pee stop!)

I started it using a jump lead from +ve terminal to the solenoide (starter side), so I presumed it was the solenoide.

I changed the solenoide the next day, and it was fine at first, but then the problem re-occurred.

After judicious use of a jump lead and a piece of scrap wire, we traced it to a bad connection between the +ve cable and battery clamp. It was dirty, and had enough of a connection for the car to run, but not enough to consistently start it. I cut back the lead to good copper (an inch) and reclamped. It's been fine since.

Moral of the story is that when you think you've cleaned all the connections, there's always one you miss!

The car did the 600 mile round trip without missing a beat, and we averaged around 60mph and 45-48mpg. I just had to use the starting handle a bit more than I'm used to!

Andrew

Well done sorting it out - and that's v good mpg.

I put the fuel economy and average speeds down to clear motorways(travelling between 7 and 12 on a Friday night).

Absolutely miles without going anywhere near the brakes, and keeping it rolling along with the speedo touching 60-65ish. I was surprised by how little fuel I used, even at those speeds.

It's good to think I got it sorted, "slow" I can deal with, "unreliability" really iritates me

Andrew

I had a very similar problem which turned out to be a faulty starter. It was jamming, in some way, internally so you'd get the click from the solenoid, lights'd dim, but no actual starting was occurring. Worked it out in the because the starter got hot so I knew it was getting significant current from somewhere

yes, the starter was going to be the next thing I looked at.

Strange thing is, I couldn't find any hot connections, which as you rightly say, is a good bet that it's a bad one. Maybe I didn't hold the key on long enough.

I now have a spare solenoide though

Andrew

eastona wrote: I now have a spare solenoide though
Andrew

Thats one spare you'll be guaranteed NEVER to need then