Morris Minor Owners Club

I have an intermittent proble on starting. On turning the key the igniton "sticks" making a click sound and wont turn the engine over. This can last for several goes or might just clear after one. The battery is new and I have tried all th usual checks, plugs, contacts etc. Trickle charging the battery overnight seems to help. Any ideas gratefully received.

Has this just started to happen? Check leads onto the battery are clean and tight at both ends, same with the starter motor. Although this sounds like the starter solenoid is sticking and not engaging the starter motor. I don't think there is any way of repairing the solenoid but it is easy and quite cheap to replace.

Thanks for the advice, will give it a go when home next week.

Can't be the solenoid Roy says so.

Can't (as ever = 'highly unlikely' to) be IF it's the original old cylindrical black rubber button type (provided it is securely earthed to the body..) -but can easily be if it's a 'new' square type with small red (or black) blob on the cover - which is not a button. Could well be sticking starter Bendix = or as mentioned above - loose/bad battery connections. If you first switch on the headlights - then try to start - do the lights go dim?

Lights flicker momentarily on start. Have checked and cleaned connections and will replace the solenoid just in case.

Sounds like bad connections to me...certainly not the solenoid !

Have fitted the new solenoid and there have been no problems on starting (so far). Will lets you know if there are ay further dramas ! Thanks for the advice

Good news - what type was the old solenoid - square, or round?

It was square, cleaned up all the connections, fingers crossed for some trouble free driving

Ahh -the square ones are prone to failure - quite a few reported, but 'never' the good old round ones....

I the same problem now for the second time. First time it looked like a sticking starter Bendix (I could solve it by moving the car while in gear). This time it didn't work for me. Battery is full. Bad connections?

What could I do to avoid a sticking starter Bendix?

I had a very similar problem, new starter motor brushes fixed it

The Bendix needs to be oil free - otherwise it attracts dirt. Possible something is draining the battery overnight? Leave a terminal off overnight, then in the morning connect and attempt a start.......any better ? And do you see a little spark as you make the connection?

Have you tried turning the square end of the starter motor shaft with a spanner when it sticks?
Are the starter motor mounting bolts tight?

mike.perry wrote: Are the starter motor mounting bolts tight?

The top bolt was loose... I will blame the mechanic who mounted it last time
Tightened and worked like a charm.

Thanks!