Club 80-90 Forums

The spade was damaged and corroded so I'm swapping the starter for a second hand one. I've removed the two nuts but it wont come off I've given it a couple of taps and hung off it but it wont budge. Should I try and prize it off with a hammer and screwdriver or is there a better way. As the spade has snapped leaving the starter isn't an option

Should be loose, sure you've taken the correct nuts off?

The bottom one has a lot longer bolt than the top and is 15mm head if I remember, top one is bigger.

You could solder the wire directly to the stub of the spade (if you have a decent soldering iron with plenty of grunt - I used a 75w one).

Thanks gents gave it a proper whack and it came off, I'll keep the starter as a back up and do what you said OBG. Started twice then click click. I forgot to do the bush and will do it tomorrow. Would a worn bush account for these symptoms?

My petrol engined van used to 'click click' and it was the ignition switch on the steering column. Quite common on those by all accounts. My began to play up in deep France during our holiday

Snap. Happened repeatedly in France especially in petrol stations. Been on Brickwerks and have one in the basket just waiting to see if they do a battery earth strap. I did change the switch a year or so ago but its worth a try.

Yeah, its an easy enough job to replace. I did all the earth straps, etc first but it still kept clicking away, and turned out to be the switch Fortunately, I had a spare with me!

Good luck with it

Did the ignition switch today and wait for it....click. There is definitely power getting to the starter motor so

1. Both the original and the second hand starters are duff.
2. I need to fit the bush. However I couldn't see where it should be in the bell housing can any one tell me and looking with a mirror there isn't anywhere that a bush would fit? I take it that an automatic doesnt have have a starter bush. Can anyone confirm?

Sir Brixalot wrote:I take it that an automatic doesnt have have a starter bush. Can anyone confirm?

Correct.

You might have voltage drop to the starter you might be better off fitting a starter relay.

Yes there is no bush on automatics.
Could it be the gearbox inhibitor switch?

1. 12.8v Power is going in to starter solenoid
2. I've changed the ignition switch today
3. Bench tested the replacement starter and my old starter and they both work.

I'll look into the inhibitor. Big Herb shouldn't 12.8 V be enough? I noticed it looks very dry in the bell housing, is that normal?

What voltage do you get down the red/black wire (with it still connected to the starter) when you try to start it?

I'll check when it's light. I did note that the battery voltage dropped when I turned the ignition switch even thought the wire to the starter motor wasn't connected.

I moved the gear selector up and down the gears and saw a couple of sparks initially. Cleaned the inhibitor switch which is quite scored and it fired up. Tried again and click. I took off the battery negative and reattached and it started again several times.
So at least its working now.

Can I still buy the inhibitor switch? Going to get another earth strap even though this isn't old. The problem does seem to be electrical and I've got the feeling I havent really sorted it and I'll see how it goes and look into the separate starter relay which I think will bypass the inhibitor

Sir Brixalot wrote: it goes and look into the separate starter relay which I think will bypass the inhibitor

It doesn't bypass the inhibitor it just takes the heavy electrical load off the inhibitor/ignition switch and wiring.