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Debugging a bad solenoid [?]

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M

MGNoir

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For a few years, I've occasionally gotten the "click" when I go to start. Battery is fine, etc. Turn the key and just get "click". I learned after a while that I could leave the key on and then push the button the back of the starter solenoid and it would start right up.

This morning though, I got the "click", but the old button trick wouldn't work anymore. Push started it, finished the drive to work, and now it's just fine - starts right up.

So am I assuming right that I should replace the starter solenoid?

I saw a recommendation in the Triumph section about buying an older US starter solenoid (NAPA part ECH ST81). Sound like a plan?
 
a solenoid is a solenoid - it's just a relay, so I don't really think you can go wrong.
 
I use that solenoid in my car. It works fine. I did have to drill 1 hole to mount it though.
 
90% of the time it is just corroded contacts inside the solenoid.
I have opened them up by prying back the tabs, cleaned the contact and they work fine again.
But getting them to look nice when you ping back the tabs is a trick.
New ones are available but if they are in a green box and come from Lucas India, toss it out before you install it.
This saves you all kinds of grief because you KNOW it's brand new so it SHOULD work but it doesn't.
 
Any 12V solenoid should work fine. They're cheap, so no reason to risk getting stuck by trying to get a little more life out of the old one. It really sounds like the one you have is bad, anyway.
 
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