Morris Minor Owners Club

Ok her goes, so drove the car on Saturday went to park her away in the evening indicators and fuel gauge were not working, fiddled about with the fuses, [because I was waxing the bulk head around the fuse holder albeit very gently some hours before] gauge and indicators working ,locked the door. Got into the car today tried to start her and all I got was a click! Popped the bonnet fiddled with the fuses again , indicator's and gauge working , then not working , kept trying the starter, just a click every time. Checked the battery with my Lidel's gauge looks ok, tried to see if the battery was on it's way out by using a power pack, nothing! tried shorting the solenoid [as I had to buy a new one a few years ago], nothing , checked to see if the starter was jammed by putting it into 4th gear and rocking it, nothing still just a click, all electrics are working at this point although the fuses seem to be a bit temperamental in so much as poor contact and my brake lights don't work but this was a problem before this all started [could it be the brake light switch as I changed this a few years ago] as they have been not working for about a week but the car and everything else worked. Sorry it's a bit long winded but any ideas folks?

Well - fuses are nothing to do with starting. so don't worry about them for now.... Poor battery connections? Take them off clean them and refit. Also - charge the battery.... Is it possible something was left on after the previous fuse fiddling? And - start it on the handle ?? That's what it's there for!

Have you got a starting handle? As long as you have enough battery to light the ign light then it should start on the handle

Thanks for the replies, the starting handle was the next move but I've got a dodgy back at the best of times! I have what looks to be a good battery by the way the horn sounds and the lights being bright and a "good" indication on my Lidels battery tester for what that's worth but I know that's not always conducive of a battery with enough power to turn the engine .Could it be the starter motor? or should I be concentrating on the battery for now?

Of course it could be - but I still say charge the battery and check the connections!

ok will do thanks

Does the engine turn over on the handle - even if you don't try to start it - just to check it's not seized...or in gear ????

Just thought I'd update you folks , got down and dirty again today and found that the power cable to the starter was loose !! so a quick tweek on the nut was all it needed....well after I took the nut off ,placed a spring washer behind it and tightened the bugger up again!

That's my kind of electrics! Tighten everything up and if that fails find an expert.

Well done...