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Don't know how many times I've given this sage advice to folks who are experiencing electrical issues with their cars: 99% of the time it's a simple fix.
The '73 MGB had been difficult to start for some time now, but with a twist: The starter would turn over fine, but would only start when I'd release the key. Finally it wouldn't start at all, but the ignition light did light up; had someone help push start it and sure enough, it fired right up. Naturally I figured it was the ignition switch that had gone south. After making sure I had continuity from the switch to the starter relay, and from there to the solenoid, I took the old switch out and separated it to clean up the contacts, which were pretty cruddy. Did that, reassembled it, and put it back in the housing in the steering column. Tried it, but nothing - starter didn't even turn over.
So I decided the switch must be bad (or, more likely, I didn't assemble it correctly!) and got another from a friend. Installed it, wired it in and tried it. The ignition light came on, but turning the key to the start position it made no sound at all. Checked the starter relay - it was fine; even put in a spare I had. Now I'm beginning to think it might be the solenoid.
Played around with the connections at the starter switch again and the starter relay and it fired up fine. Thought I must not have secured one of the well enough.
Let it run a while to charge the battery, and then shut it down. Tried to start it again, and no joy - starter turned over fine, but would not run.
Only realized what the problem might have been when I happened to turn on the lights to see how bright they were. The left bank of side and parking lights were out. Checked and found one ground disconnected (no idea how that happened), and they came on, but only briefly. Just for kicks I went to the fuse block and pulled and reinstalled the red wires for the lights; found that they weren't very tight, so cleaned them up and pinched the connectors for a better fit; even the other ones (which didn't seem that tight, either). Tried the lights again, and they came on. Just for kicks I tried to start it once more and it fired up fine. Ran it a while, then shut it down. Tried again and it started - several times. This was yesterday; this morning I went to the garage to see if it would start, and sure enough, it started right up. The only thing I can think is that the wire from the fuse block to the coil must not have been secure and was only intermittently making contact.
Next project is to clean up ALL connections and apply the proper grease to them!
These cars sure can dish up a huge serving of humble pie!
The '73 MGB had been difficult to start for some time now, but with a twist: The starter would turn over fine, but would only start when I'd release the key. Finally it wouldn't start at all, but the ignition light did light up; had someone help push start it and sure enough, it fired right up. Naturally I figured it was the ignition switch that had gone south. After making sure I had continuity from the switch to the starter relay, and from there to the solenoid, I took the old switch out and separated it to clean up the contacts, which were pretty cruddy. Did that, reassembled it, and put it back in the housing in the steering column. Tried it, but nothing - starter didn't even turn over.
So I decided the switch must be bad (or, more likely, I didn't assemble it correctly!) and got another from a friend. Installed it, wired it in and tried it. The ignition light came on, but turning the key to the start position it made no sound at all. Checked the starter relay - it was fine; even put in a spare I had. Now I'm beginning to think it might be the solenoid.
Played around with the connections at the starter switch again and the starter relay and it fired up fine. Thought I must not have secured one of the well enough.
Let it run a while to charge the battery, and then shut it down. Tried to start it again, and no joy - starter turned over fine, but would not run.
Only realized what the problem might have been when I happened to turn on the lights to see how bright they were. The left bank of side and parking lights were out. Checked and found one ground disconnected (no idea how that happened), and they came on, but only briefly. Just for kicks I went to the fuse block and pulled and reinstalled the red wires for the lights; found that they weren't very tight, so cleaned them up and pinched the connectors for a better fit; even the other ones (which didn't seem that tight, either). Tried the lights again, and they came on. Just for kicks I tried to start it once more and it fired up fine. Ran it a while, then shut it down. Tried again and it started - several times. This was yesterday; this morning I went to the garage to see if it would start, and sure enough, it started right up. The only thing I can think is that the wire from the fuse block to the coil must not have been secure and was only intermittently making contact.
Next project is to clean up ALL connections and apply the proper grease to them!
These cars sure can dish up a huge serving of humble pie!