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help in troubleshooting starter issue!

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mooncat

mooncat

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hi - i've had my 1973 MGB since 1987 but still consider myself a very novice mechanic. anyway, at least i've keep it safely on the road all these years! :smile: still ...... last month my heater valve sprung a leak - fortunately i was able to make it home (just) with a very hot engine. i tried to restart an hour or so later, but when i turned the key .... nothing .... it was about two days before it started again. i replaced the valve and the car runs fine EXCEPT for: if the car sits for a day or so, when i turn the key, i get .... nothing .... if i continue to hold the key in the on position, after a few seconds (or perhaps if i shut off and turn the key on again), it will start. basically, the key turn will activate the solenoid (??) of the starter motor (i hear a click) but no turn over. but trying again, or simply keeping the key turned for a few seconds longer, it will engage. trying to sort this out and wondering if this problem is related to the soaking the engine must have gotten from the heater valve leaking (or the hotter temperature it reached with a drained (nearly) radiator) or something else. the battery is good. perhaps the motor is on it's way out? anything else i should be looking for? thanks for your help!
 
Those are the same symptoms my sprite has, and it has nothing to do with the heater valve. Others here have suggested that it is probably worn out brushes. Those can be replaced using a mongo soldering iron or you can send the starter in for a rebuild (there's a guy in So Cal https://www.starautoelectric.com/Home.htm who apparently does a wonderful job for a reasonable price, though I haven't used him) Sometimes mine won't start at all so I have to give the starter a light tap with a BFH, which works every time.
 
Yup. If the tap with a cricket bat or other blunt piece o' kit to the starter body makes it spin up, it's a safe bet the starter needs rebuilt.
 
There are places in every moderately large town that rebuild starters...usually they're listed in the Yellow Pages under "auto electric"....no reason to send it to So Cal or anywhere else.....also, you can take it out & take it to Advance Auto or any other auto parts place & they can bench test it for you.

Starter is definitely directly under that heater valve that blew up so it probably got soaked.....may just be the connections need cleaning.
 
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