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Starter going out?

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Stewart

Stewart

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I'm having intermittent problems with the starter. Up until this morning it had worked great but now at what seems like random it will just click once when the key is turned. It will however work just fine if I put the car in fourth and rock the car just enough to get the engine to move and the starter will work just fine when I turn the key.

Battery is brand spanking new and shows 12.6v engine off and 13.9 at idle.

I'm I looking at a dead spot on the starter, solenoid, relay or bad battery ground?
 
If it IS the starter, soleniod, relay or battery ground, rocking the car wouldn't change anything. Is this "click once" a solenoid-only click (electrical), or a "clunk" (mechanical) as the solenoid slugs the starter pinion into the ring gear?

Either way I'd be suspecting the starter first. Your grounds are all recently checked/cleaned, IIRC.
 
The starter pinion gear may need to be replaced. When the gear wears, it sticks on the teeth of the ring gear. Worst case you have to replace both but most often only the small gear needs replaced.

It could also be a bad or sticking solenoid. Either way, pull the starter and rebuild it.
 
I agree with what these guys say. I would take it out and have it checked at an auto parts store. Odds are, it may just be something that a rebuild will cure, but it can't hurt to have it checked.
 
Ordered a new one on sat picked it up this afternoon most likely put it in on tuesday. I still cant belive the local autopart store can get stuff that fast. Since ordering the new starter the old one has worked perfectly. Freaking lucas.
 
I dont blame lucas for the breakage. The dpo claims to have rebuilt the current starter prior to me buying the car and I did find it in the trunk but judging by everything else I've found and fixed I'm suprised it worked at all let alone this long. I do find it funny though that it went back to perfect working order the second I ordered the replacement.
 
Advance auto. For the few items they do stock for MG's they can get it next day at no extra cost. Ordered the starter on saturday and they called me to pick it up on monday morning at 9am.
 
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