Club 80-90 Forums

Hi all, my intermittent starting problems have got worse and I can't start it. As I think its electrical I'm starting a thread here to try and start from scratch

I've put new earth straps on the battery and chassis
new ignition switch
tested and working used starter

I'm trying now to work forward from the ignition to the inhibitor on the auto gear selector.

I am getting 12.65v into the ignition from the red wire does the red and black one take the power out?
I put the together two black and red wires that go into the inhibitor and initially took a reading of 7.5V when trying to start then nothing. Should I be getting 12V?

Sir Brixalot wrote:

I put the together two black and red wires that go into the inhibitor and initially took a reading of 7.5V when trying to start then nothing. Should I be getting 12V?

Yes you should be getting near to 12V. You need to systematically check the voltages through the system when the key is turned to the start posistion. First check the Voltage (with the wires still connected) at the red wire on the ignition switch then the red/black wire. Then work your way down all the connections to the inhibitor switch to find where the voltage drops.

Seems that its right at the ignition. The black and red exit wire connects in a relay and then in to a big plug behind relay 43. It has been consistently starting I'm hoping the crimps were just slightly loose. I need to recrimp them all now as I had to force them out of the plastic housing. Fingers crossed

E D I T put new crimps on and its starting every time. When I've got time I'll replace the wires.

Once I'd put the steering wheel back on, tidied the wiring put all the earths back on a cleaned up crown I wandered roung for a quick check. It wouldn't start.... it was only after a lot of effing and blinding and taking the wires back out to try and hot wire it that I remembered I'd put the gear stick in first to put the cowling back on! One job done, not to see if the transmission leaks been cured.