1973 Europa Twin Cam - Wont start :-)
Discussion
A couple of weeks ago I drove my Europa TC through a few deepish puddles - well almost rivers! Car performed faultlessly, arrived home and I switched off the engine. Opened the garage door, restarted the car and parked it in it's double skinned, carpeted dehumidifier home.
Checked it next day and found that the floor carpets were well saturated so removed the seats and carpets and have been drying them until yesterday when it all went back together.
I needed to move it today and when I turn the key I get absolutely nothing except the ignition light and an ammeter that shows full discharge when operating the 'silent' starter.
Headlights are bright and dim when 'starter' is operated. Tried it also with my Jump Start unit - still nothing.
Old age (mine, not the cars) means I have long forgotten the basics so any help would be much appreciated.
Thank you.
Checked it next day and found that the floor carpets were well saturated so removed the seats and carpets and have been drying them until yesterday when it all went back together.
I needed to move it today and when I turn the key I get absolutely nothing except the ignition light and an ammeter that shows full discharge when operating the 'silent' starter.
Headlights are bright and dim when 'starter' is operated. Tried it also with my Jump Start unit - still nothing.
Old age (mine, not the cars) means I have long forgotten the basics so any help would be much appreciated.
Thank you.
First check the battery leads are secure and the engine earth lead is intact, if ok then give the starter a tap with a hammer handle or similar and try again, the starter is probably sticking.
Or take an old screwdriver and short the terminals on the solenoid, the starter should spin, you can do this with jump leads if you have any.
Or take an old screwdriver and short the terminals on the solenoid, the starter should spin, you can do this with jump leads if you have any.
kev b said:
First check the battery leads are secure and the engine earth lead is intact, if ok then give the starter a tap with a hammer handle or similar and try again, the starter is probably sticking.
Or take an old screwdriver and short the terminals on the solenoid, the starter should spin, you can do this with jump leads if you have any.
And check for loose/corroded power cable connections on chassis/block etc. If they've been submerged they're probably suffering a little by now.Or take an old screwdriver and short the terminals on the solenoid, the starter should spin, you can do this with jump leads if you have any.
hi david
not an expert, but here's what I would do....
I would suspect starter motor...if the old type, try turning the spindle that sticks out at the end..
[don't think bypassing the solenoid would work, but worth a try]
if you check the power supply to the starter, plus earthing, and all is ok, maybe the starter motor itself has given up.....they do, sometimes.....only solved by replacement
it could be splines jammed in the starter ring...
if you put it in gear and gently rock, does the engine turn over?
not an expert, but here's what I would do....
I would suspect starter motor...if the old type, try turning the spindle that sticks out at the end..
[don't think bypassing the solenoid would work, but worth a try]
if you check the power supply to the starter, plus earthing, and all is ok, maybe the starter motor itself has given up.....they do, sometimes.....only solved by replacement
it could be splines jammed in the starter ring...
if you put it in gear and gently rock, does the engine turn over?
A possibly daft suggestion, but will it go with a jump start from another battery or car ? It might have enough voltage to light everything up but not enough to overcome the initial resistance to turning over the engine, especially if the damp conditions have caused a low drain on the wiring loom.
Otherwise it sounds like chasing electrical connections. I'd be surprised if you'd been deep enough to submerge the starter motor as it's about sump level and not the lowest point on the engine. But if you have then I think I'd be taking it off and stripping/cleaning. It's a standard pre-engaged one, nothing special and easy to pull apart.
Brian
Otherwise it sounds like chasing electrical connections. I'd be surprised if you'd been deep enough to submerge the starter motor as it's about sump level and not the lowest point on the engine. But if you have then I think I'd be taking it off and stripping/cleaning. It's a standard pre-engaged one, nothing special and easy to pull apart.
Brian
Thank you all for the information - it now all makes some sense!
The starter motor is off and going to be checked properly tomorrow by people that know better than me (it operates off car but appears maybe a little lethargic). Some of the wiring looks poor, so will be addressing that over the weekend - easier now that the car is in the air :-)
It also makes sense to me to loosen and then re-tighten all of the earthing points. Once that's done I'll check the voltages (after I've read the multi-meter instructions!)
Hopefully that'll sort the old girl out - she's had 30 years of fairly trouble free use and abuse with me so it's about time I lavished some care on her.
I'll post results - thanks again.
The starter motor is off and going to be checked properly tomorrow by people that know better than me (it operates off car but appears maybe a little lethargic). Some of the wiring looks poor, so will be addressing that over the weekend - easier now that the car is in the air :-)
It also makes sense to me to loosen and then re-tighten all of the earthing points. Once that's done I'll check the voltages (after I've read the multi-meter instructions!)
Hopefully that'll sort the old girl out - she's had 30 years of fairly trouble free use and abuse with me so it's about time I lavished some care on her.
I'll post results - thanks again.
If they say the starter okay, and when fitted back in the car it does not turn over... check the earth / negative is good coming from the engine.
If it looks okay, but will not start still. Get someone to give you a push start. If it runs then, I think it must be the earth strap or the starter solenoid.
If you was local to Chester I would offer to come and give you a hand.
Richard
If it looks okay, but will not start still. Get someone to give you a push start. If it runs then, I think it must be the earth strap or the starter solenoid.
If you was local to Chester I would offer to come and give you a hand.
Richard
also when the starter is on again and spinning, and say the motor won't start,
when you have a power distributor Cap (older engines) and moist comes in,
there is also a great possibility the car won't start.
But now days after it will be gone I guess, otherwise take it of and dry it with some cloth/paper.
you then can also check the points :-)
when you have a power distributor Cap (older engines) and moist comes in,
there is also a great possibility the car won't start.
But now days after it will be gone I guess, otherwise take it of and dry it with some cloth/paper.
you then can also check the points :-)
Yippeee. Starter motor just received back from it's rebuild, now fitted and car starts fine :-)
The solenoid required replacing but the motor was OK. After at least 30 years I am pleasantly surprised that that's all that was needed (I don't know how long the starter was on the car prior to me having it in 1985).
I am assuming that the drenching that the unit received was the final straw for the solenoid.
Thanks for all of the advice etc.
The solenoid required replacing but the motor was OK. After at least 30 years I am pleasantly surprised that that's all that was needed (I don't know how long the starter was on the car prior to me having it in 1985).
I am assuming that the drenching that the unit received was the final straw for the solenoid.
Thanks for all of the advice etc.
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