Re: Almost...!

[Christian Stanton <cstanton@pixley.com>]

I found out that my '78 will turn over without a ground strap!
However this will draw the ground through the rest of the wiring to the engine 
as well as the accelerator cable.  The voltage drop across the
now tiny wiring on the ground was enough to cause the coil to get very little 
voltage
and not produce spark.

The issue was that the car would turn over, but not start
as soon as I released the key the engine would give a few pops 
as the voltage to the coil returned but not have enough 
momentum to actually fire up.

After discovering this, I took a propane torch 
and some solder to the ground strap (it's only crimped to the lugs) 
and soldered it good and tight.

My bet is that the starter is gone.  Do the voltage test as Peter C. outlined 
to isolate it.

P.S. Ground strap is near the oil dipstick on the front right hand side of the 
engine.

<< If it is a bad solenoid you might be able to get around the problem by
 giving it a couple of whacks with a hammer.   >>
P.P.S. On all Midgets wasn't the solenoid external (mine is)?
If you gave it a good whack with a BFH you are likely to destroy it.  
This does work with starters with integrated solenoids that also 
engage the gear.


>>> "David Riker" <davidr@sunset.net> 07/19 12:19 PM >>>
I also just remembered another common cause of this type of problem.  Check
to make sure there is a good ground strap to the engine.  A car that has
been sitting for a long time could have coroded through or come loose.
Without it, there won't be enough current to turn the starter.

----- Original Message -----
From: <Ajhsys@aol.com>
To: <adrian@workgroup.net>; <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, July 19, 1999 6:43 AM
Subject: Re: Almost...!


> In a message dated 7/19/99 7:55:54 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
> adrian@workgroup.net writes:
>
> <<  I already hacked off one of my knuckles messing with it yesterday.
The
>  battery is brand spanking new.  I have a new solenoid but have to get the
old
>  one off first, and it's located conveniently under the heater. >>
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>
> The solenoid was one of the first things I changed in my '77 Midget.  It
> wasn't too bad.  At least it's near the top of the firewall.  Just make
sure
> all the wires go back on the correct terminals.  Also, check the cable on
the
> starter itself.  Mine was loose.
>
> Allen Hefner
> '77 Midget
> '92 Mitsubishi Expo LRV Sport
>