Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi
My '68 saloon has been asleep for a month. I have just tried to wake him up and all I get is a growling-whining noise when I turn the ignition key. Can't see anything obvious and it was fine a month ago. Could this be a dead starter motor or is it just angry at being woken up? (Tried rocking the car in gear but still did the same when I turned the key).
Never had this problem before so I'm a bit flummoxed.
Any advice would be great.
thanks
Mike
http://www.mmoc.org.uk/posting.php?mode=post&f=4#

Sounds like your starter motor pinion has jammed in the flywheel. Put the car in 2nd gear and rock it back and forth a few times (which should free off the pinion), then try again.

Also try fully charging the battery.

If still no joy, you may need to remove the starter motor and free if off - 'lubricate' the bendix with graphite (ground pencil lead). Don't use any oil-based lube, or it will attract clutch dust.

Thanks for the advice
Tried rocking it in 2nd gear first but he's still growling and doing nothing else so it looks like I'm going to have to do as you say with the starter motor if that's what it is
thanks again
Mike

Just for clarity, the engine is not turning over? Have you tried jump leads / charging the battery?

Hi there
Battery fully charged up (or it was!), just tried rocking it in 2nd and tapping starter motor but still same. Not turning over or doing anything except making a growling ehhhhh sound. Was fine a month ago - bin left in garage and not used for a month - Just for the hell of it I've opened dizzy cap & turned fan belt and all seems ok in there.
'cos it's in garage facing wall can't do a jump lead check, (sod's law - 9 times out of 10 I back it in!
Does it def sound like a starter motor problem?
Thanks again
Fed up Mike

Before I start taking everything out to get to the starter motor, the alternator/fan belt are not moving, so along with the ehhhh sound does this all point to the starter motor?
Please forgive me if I sound a bit thick but I've never had this problem before.
Thanks everyone for all your help
Mike

If the engine is not turning over, then the fan belt won't turn - the starter turns the flywheel, which turns the crankshaft, which turns the fan belt which turns the alternator.

If it's been standing for a month and the battery is a couple of years old, then that still sounds like the most likely problem. Turn the headlights on. Are they bright? Turn the key - do the lights go dim? Have you got a voltmeter and/or hydrometer to check the battery? I think that pushing the car out of the garage will allow you better access and a quick fix - you could even try the starting handle!

thanks again for the advise guys.
I'll get to it

It's NOT the starter - IT IS JUST A FLAT BATTERY ! Charge it!!

select14u wrote:Hi there
Battery fully charged up (or it was!), just tried rocking it in 2nd and tapping starter motor but still same.

Quite often, they need more than just 'tapping'; more like a good clout with a club hammer!

But yes, check that the engine is turning over, preferably by using the starting handle or a suitable sized spanner on the crankshaft dog, or by putting the car in 4th gear and rolling it back and forth. If it's not turning over, something is seized.

"growling" could be the bendix stuck. Remove starter motor (only two 9/16 nuts and bolts and one 7/16 for the feed from the solenoid.) Clean bendix (bit on the end of the spiral coarse thread- it should move) with a solvent and get it moving, lubricate with pencil `'lead`'. re fit and car will start.

Just charge the battery before removing anything.....

What he said ^^^^^^^

Have you tried the "wrench on the (front) end of the starter shaft" trick?