MK IV Sprite starter solenoid

[rspargu2]

Hello,

I’m new to the forum. I have a 1965 Sprite. The stater solenoid failed so I got a new one from Moss. Upon testing the new solenoid. I found that my key is providing voltage to the terminal but the solenoid is not activating. I then connected the terminal directly to the positive terminal on the battery to test. Same thing, solenoid not working. I got another solenoid and I am having the same problem. It seems to me that this should be plug and play but of course almost nothing on an LBC is plug and play! Not sure if I have the wrong part but it looks exactly the same as the old one. Any suggestions/ help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[JPSmit]

If you have gone through 2 I suspect it might be the wiring - it has been some time since I did mine but I clearly recall managing to wire it so nothing happened.

The solenoid is just a relay with a higher current capacity on one side for the starter.

So the bigger bolts take the battery - solenoid cable on one side and the solenoid - starter cable on the other. In this pic the bolt with the 'tab' (on the right) goes to the battery. Thus, with it hooked up, the first test is to see if you can bypass the solenoid to ensure the starter turns. You can do this by touching both bolts with a screwdriver or by undoing one of the cables and touching it to the other (Make sure the battery is hooked up for this - don't ask me why this is important )

assuming the starter spins - hook the cables back up and move to the switch.

I can't remember how the ignition switch grounds. My wiring diagram seems to indicate that either the solenoid grounds through one of the black wires or the solenoid itself is physically grounded by being bolted in place. Either way the power (green - switched) comes to the main ignition switch n the steering column and when the ignition switch is turned power comes down a white wire with a red stripe to the solenoid. I don't know if you have a multimeter to test if there is power coming to the solenoid when the switch is turned - if not, I made a tester out of a 12V lightbulb holder and bulb with aligator clips attached to the ends of the wire tails. Clip one end to the white red - wire and the other end to a ground and it should light up when you turn the key.

Not sure what else except maybe to ask about the state of the battery itself and whether there is enough juice to make things go. Of course cleaning and checking connections is always worth the trouble with a Little British Cars (as is checking continuity)

good luck and keep us posted!

PS forgive me if I am telling you the obvious - I usually have to talk it out to make sense

 

[rspargu2]

Hello and thanks much for the help. So my Healey wouldn’t start and I was able to get a push so I could drive home. The first thing I checked was for voltage on the starter side of the solenoid with the key. No voltage but the solenoid was clicking. Once I had the new solenoid installed and turned the key——nothing. I put my test light on the wire from the key switch and got 12V. I then got a wire and touched the connector for the key to the battery ground + and nothing. Please note the I found the old solenoid was isolated with Butyl on the mounting bracket. I have also verified the starter is working exactly the way that you described. Battery is good. I charged it overnight just for good measure. I think I will put the old unit in to see if it is still clicking with the key switch. FYI - I isolated the new solenoid while performing my troubleshooting. You mentioned that it should be grounded. Would you suggest grounding the solenoid chassis? For all I know, it was grounded before. I presumed that it needed to be isolated.

Thanks again,

Rhett

 

[rspargu2]

The chassis needs to be grounded as you mentioned because it has only one small terminal. Anyway, I will let you know when she’s back on the road!

 

[rspargu2]

Hello JPSmit,

Thanks for providing the solution to my issue. She’s up and running

 

[Bayless]

Congratulations to both of you.