• Hi Guest!
    You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

MGB MGB starting problems.

Share this page

M

Marcel

Freshman Member
Offline
Hi everyone,
I'm new to BCF and also new at the classic car world, but keen to learn and do as much as possible myself to keep my MGB GT 1976 looking great.
I'm now getting around to the 'starting' part of making everything great and I have two things I need to resolve:
1. sometimes it takes several minutes of trying before she fires. Even though I live in a warm climate (no choke required). And then she fires first time once she has run for a couple of minutes. I have changed the points, rotor and distributor cap and that made some difference.
2. I now get a couple of nothing 'clicks' when turning the ignition, and after a few attempts she finally kicks in.
I have cleaned the contacts on the battery and am sure the battery is in great condition.
Is there a common denominator part or parts that need to be looked at?
 
Make sure all bullet connectors in the wiring system are clean and making good contact. Over the years they corrode inside and poor contact along with intermittent contact can occur. Quite common on old British cars. Also, make sure the female connectors are not broken inside, they also loose their tension on the bullet. Moss sells them by the bag. PJ
 
Also check that your solenoid is actually working. Sounds like that is the most likely culprit.

And WELCOME to the BCF!!
 
Thanks DrEntropy!
I've ordered a solenoid.
I live out in the sticks in southern Portugal so it takes a while for parts to reach me from England - but should have it in a week or so.
Thanks again
Marcel
 
Hope that does it. Let us know the outcome?
 
Even if the climate is warm I think that your car would start much better if you used the choke for the first minute or so- it might also save your solenoid the next time.
BillM
 
:iagree:
 
It took a while, but the problem is fixed - indeed required a new solenoid. Many thanks for the good info. Best wishes, Marcel
 
:banana:

Great to hear you got it sorted out.
 
Back
Top