clicking sound when ignition key turned

[BOXY]

I think I typed "starter motor" & "cornwall" into Yell.com to find them. I just checked my receipts and my starter was £75 so the £53 is a really good price.

[California Dreamin]

Whilst I was under the bus I took the copper braided wire that goes between the solenoid and starter body and cleaned that up.

Are we talking about the same thing? you would have to remove the starter motor to get anywhere near this short 5-6cm braided wire and it's a strip down job to replace.

Martin

[avant-garde]

I don't know...all I know is that there is a 6cm strip of braided wire linking the solenoid and the starter motor. I took one end of the braided wire off which is fixed onto the solenoid by a 8mm or 10mm nut ( the other end goes into the starter motor), I cleaned the exposed end up.

I've had the bus towed down to the garage and within 30 seconds it was running again...they hit the solenoid with a metal bar and the van works. At least now I know what the problem is - a sticking solenoid.

So now I'll either have this one reconditioned or buy a new one.

Thanks again for all your help and advise...it was much appreciated.

If you want I can take a picture of the braided wire if you are intrigued as to what it is?

Thanks again,
Kevin

[California Dreamin]

My appologies for doubting you...this is indeed the wire that I was talking about. They have a tendancy to corrode leaving half as many strands as there should be.
Knocking the starter in this way is a common temporary fix, it certainly indicates a starter fault but not on it's own. All the other things need to be good as well: Battery/Battery clamps/Earthing braided cables/Earthing points/Positive feed wires/ignition switch etc.

Martin

[avant-garde]

Fitted a new starter motor yesterday and now it starts first time.

[BOXY]