John:
With a new battery and a rebuilt starter, it seems unlikely that
either of these systems are bad, particularly since they worked for a
while. Anything is possible of course, but I think you should be looking
elsewhere - at things that were disturbed during the installation for
example.
I would start with the battery terminals. Since you had your
battery swapped, it is possible that the terminals were not tightened
adequately or that the terminals are corroded and need replacement.
Remove them from the battery, and use a wire brush to clean them
and the battery posts, then reinstall and retighten. A loose connection
can provide enough juice to run the lights, but not turn over the
starter - been there, done that.
Another possibility is that the battery connection to the
starter itself is loose. This would also give you good lights but no
start. Once again, remove the cable to the starter (disconnect the
battery first, or you will arc weld the cable to the chassis if you drop
it or touch anything!!!) wire brush it and reinstall with a fresh lock
washer. Tighten the nut securely.
Check the ground strap from the battery to the chassis. Is it
clean with tight connections to the body AND the engine block? Once
again, remove the strap and wire brush the connections, then reinstall
and tighten the bolts securely.
Listen for the starter solenoid to pull in when you turn the
key. If you get a loud click in the vicinity of the starter, but the
starter does not spin at all, then I would start to wonder if the
rebuild on the starter was any good. But for now, check those cables and
connections.
Let us know how it goes....
Vance
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-6pack@Autox.Team.Net [mailto:owner-6pack@Autox.Team.Net] On
Behalf Of John Summers
Sent: July 19, 2007 10:59 AM
To: 6pack@autox.team.net
Subject: [6pack] Starter ?
Folks,
<snip>
During the visit we found that my battery was dead
- ( I knew that) and after replacing it the mechanic
told me the starter was bad. Up until now the starter
had been the one thing I could count on working. I
bought it From Ted Schumacer many years ago after
going through at least 3 (British Catalog starters) in
one year. Like I said, this starter was rock solid.
So. The mehanic sent the starter out to be rebuilt.
Upon return the car started fine probably 15 times in
the two months it was back at home.
Then last Friday night I made a midnight run to
WalMart. When I got in the car for the return trip
the car kind of halfheartedly turned over but did
start.
When I got home I remembered something I read in the
VTR site about evaluating a TR6. It said something
like after driving turn the car off and set a couple
minutes and try to restart. So I did that. NOTHING!
Not a click, not the sound of anything whirring, no
clunks, just nothing. The lights came on and worked
fine and the electric fan was running but as best I
could tell the starter had decided not to be involved
in the process.
<snip>
Let's hear the corporate wisdom of the list, ok.
John Summers
'74TR6
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