Club 80-90 Forums

Hello all,
Need some advice please. The camper has this weird habit on start up at times. It acts as though it has got a flat battery, no spark, doesn't turn over at all. After a few goes of turning the key though it will suddenly spring to life and run fine. Anyone have any ideas what could be going on? Its a 1915 watercooled engine, 1986. Many thanks
Joe

Does the engine rotate?

Sounds like a dodgy connection somewhere. Check your ignition switch, plus all connections and (especially) earths.

Starter motor brushes??

Thankyou. Ill check all them. No engine doesnt rotate. Very odd

For starters (no pun intended) : Bad engine earth, corroded starter motor terminals, dodgy ignition switch....etc.

Thankyou. Will look at all of them tomorrow

No joy yet. Off to the mechanics

Not wanting to deprive your local garage from some much needed work but haven't you thrown the towel in a tad soon?

Don't bother taking it to a garage, it won't do it there for sure. It's just trying to wind you up, don't do anything or it will realise it is winning.


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the small wire on the starter solenoid is favorite to be a poor connection
mm

+1 for the wire on the solenoid. You can get to it from the engine bay and it has a spade connector on it - take it off, get a bit of sandpaper on the connection and use a little wire brush to clean up the spade connector. Also check that the wiring to the spade connector is clean.

Joe Wright wrote:No joy yet. Off to the mechanics

Best you assume the position then.
It really does read like poor or dirty connections.
It's a simple task, clean the electrical connections
Battery terminals, earthing point, starter terminals.

Do you really need a garage to do that?
If that doesn't work then pay for them to change the starter.

Grovelling around on your back for half an hour will probably save you £100. I know what I'd do.

Starter signal wire
Gearbox nose earth strap
faulty ignition switch

All are known common faults

Ian