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MG MG Y Type - Starter motor Troubles

Gents, I need your combined wisdom !!.

A friend has just driven YA1006 onto the ferry bound for Tasmania, and the starter motor is spinning but not engagaging with the ring-gear.

Any suggestions for diagnosis & remedy would be really appreciated before the ferry docks in the morning in Tasmania.

I have advised him to check all the cable connections are secure (including the battery terminals & earth strap), but beyond that I'm out of ideas.

This car went under in the Brisbane Floods last year, so the starter could have corrosion issues, but it has been working perfectly for at least 8 months in the garage, but now "on the road" - it is giving grief.

The condensor died earlier today roadside and the car "failed to proceed" - luckily we had a spare on board.

Should we try a little WD40/DWF on the pinion ?.

Thanks in Advance

Tony
A L SLATTERY

Did you try tapping it with a hammer, it might loosen it. Otherwise voltage or the lack of could cause this.

The solenoid could be faulty too, but that is not a quick and easy fix.
Willem vd Veer

Try to keep the pinion dry and therefore clean. Putting any grease or oil on the pinion will attract dirt when the car is driven and that is not good.

As Willem suggests I would pull the wire off the starter and make sure is clean. Rough it up with some sandpaper if necessary. The ferry engine room should have something suitable. Also, make sure there is a clean contact on the starter motor too and that the stud is not moving around in the casing! Pinch it tight with a spring washer, then a flat washer then the nut if you can get one with a good but not too big a hole if there are no washers on it. Then move across and check securing and cleanliness of earth strap/gearbox and earth strap/chassis connections. Clean and tighten as necessary.

The hammer is a good tool too. Failing that, see the notes on Starting handle use that are currently on this BBS too! Who needs a starter motor??

Paul
Paul Barrow

Hi Paul,
My friend tried all of the above - no change, so he has now been crank starting it all day - they covered 220 miles in Tassie today, so it's all good.

Connecting a smart charger to the battery tonight confirmed it is fully charged, so that just about settles it - starter motor swap on Friday in Hobart !.

cheers

Tony
A L SLATTERY

When you get the old one out it will be interesting to try it on the bench and see if it spins up.

Also, when stripped down it will be good to find the fault. I bet it is just a simple insulation fault.
Paul Barrow

Sounds to me as if the pinion is stuck on the shaft. I expect that if the starter was removed and the pinion and shaft cleaned up you would be good to go. I think it very unlikely that the starter will need replacing.
Cheers, Hugh Pite
H.D. Pite

Latest news from the tourists in Tassie - another tighten on the cables this morning (including the earth strap) and the starter has worked perfectly all day !.

Terry sounded a bit disappointed on the phone at "report in", he did not get the chance to crank start it all day today !
A L SLATTERY

This thread was discussed between 01/04/2012 and 03/04/2012

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