Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi there,

A short time ago the starter switch failed (I thought), replaced the switch and she (59 build) was starting again.
Now, a few weeks later, the same problem, probably wasn't the switch the first time.
When I turn the key the ignition and oil light are on, when I pull the switch the go out but nothing else happens.
The manual suggests the battery but then it should work with starting cables but it does not.
The Morris battery is OK, I put it in my Spitfire and that starts OK.

My idea now is that it's probably a wiring issue, how do I attack this?

Almost all wires under under the bonnet are green (thanks to the previous owner?)

Any help/suggestions are welcome!

Edward

If it won't start with the handle it would suggest something in the ignition circuit, quite possibly the coil but That wouldn't stop the engine spinning when you pull the starter. The fact that it doesnt spin with the starter sounds more like starter motor.

Forgot to mention, it does start with the handle.
I took the starter motor out, connected it directly to the battery and it works

Bad connections are likely to be the problem - check the earth connection from battery to bodyshell. Clue is - the lights should NOT go out when you pull the starter cable. They go slightly dim - as the starter loads up the battery - but not 'out' . Other poss is - was the starter maybe 'jammed' in the flywheel? If it happens again - either wind it back with the little square on the end - or just rock the car in top gear - handbrake off and Ign OFF.

Sorry - I misread "starting cables" as "starting handle". Yes it definitely will be a prob with starter motor or the wiring to it or as Roy says the battery earth. Try rocking the car in gear to free the starter off the flywheel as a first option.

Is the earth strap connected under the car from the back of the gearbox to the gearbox crossmember?

The car has positive earth and connects to the bulkhead

The lights on the speedo going out when you pull the starter indicate that either there is no earth path for the starter or that it is pulling a massive current. As stated above you should check that both the battery earth cable is firmly attached at both ends and also the gearbox earth which is under the car from gearbox to gearbox crossmember..... The excessive current draw would only be caused if the starter is jamming.

Thanks for all the replies!

The starter motor is free.
this weekend I will renew all cables from the battery and check/make an earth from the gearbox.
Not a big job and with 50+ year old cables you never know.

Thanks

AM8255 wrote:The car has positive earth and connects to the bulkhead

That only connects the car body to the battery. The engine and gearbox are mounted on rubber blocks and so they need earthing to the body

I was thinking about making an "extra" earth point on one of the bolts fixing the starter motor, rules one option out.

Yes - that would be fine.

try shorting the two terminals across the starter solenoid where the pull switch is under the bonnet if it then spins over thens thats where the fault is.

Did that, no result

Nothing at all, no spark, no click?
If so the solenoid isn't the problem, there isn't a circuit.
Try a jumper lead from the engine to a bolt that goes into the body work.
The earth side of a circuit is just as important as the live side.

so you got nothing when you shorted the solenoid terminals,ok take a heavy lead,jump lead would do and clamp to the positive side of the battery and touch it firmly to the terminal on the solenoid where the lead goes directly to the starter motor, out of gear and switched of,if still no life from starter motor take the lead straight to the connection on the starter(The one that goes to the solenoid)if the motor spins then the fault is the solenoid or the cableing from it to the motor or a bad earth at the starter motor,

Playing around with jump leads revealed the problem, it was the earth!
Made a new earth cable connecting to the body and the engine.
Starts like new!

Thanks for your help,

Edward

Told you so

I did say 'earth' way back on the 14th...... Did you bother to check ??

I suggested using a jumper lead as a quick and easy way to check!

We were all right, and should all be happy it's been fixed.