Club 80-90 Forums

I KNOW THAT THERE ARE TOPICS OUT THERE ALREADY REGARDING THE CLICKING NOISE, BUT I HAVE RECENTLY REPLACED THE STARTER AS IT WASN'T DISENGAGING AND WAS THE ORIGINAL ANYHOW, SO PROBABLY NEEDED DITCHING ANYHOW.
THING IS, NOW WHEN TRYING TO START UP I'M GETTING THIS LOUD CLICKING NOISE AND IF IT DOES FIRE UP EVENTUALLY BOTH THE IGNITION LIGHTS ARE ON THE DASH UNTIL I REV IT UP(THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN PREVIOUSLY) IF IT'S THE EARTH STRAP THAT IS AT FAULT, WHERE DO I FIND IT? WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE? I'M GUESSING A PROBLEM I HAD A MONTH OR SO AGO WHERE THE VAN WOULD BE TICKING OVER FINE AT THE LIGHTS THEN WOULD DIE FOR NO APOPARENT REASON MAY BE LINKED TO THIS DODGY EARTH STRAP?

ANY HELP WOULD BE REALLY APPREACHIATED

BRADDERS

bigfish wrote:ANY HELP WOULD BE REALLY APPREACHIATED

BRADDERS

it would really help if you didnt type in caps, its really hard to read, and is considered shouting on the forum.......

now, your problem is quite possibly a earth issue, the main earth strap to check is on the nose of the gearbox.......and the earth strap at the battery, AND its clamp

however, i suspect you have a live wire issue, check the main battery cables and the actual battery clamps, it isnt unknown for the cable to the starter motor to rot internally, so looks ok visually from the outside, but is breaking down .

sorry bout the CAPS before, lesson learnt...

it was a live wire that was the problem and the earths weren't too great either. Wire's replaced and earths cleaned up, starting first time and seems to run alot better too..

thanks

Bradders

Bradders
I have a bit of a tricky intermittent starting issue and suspect the live wire - what did you replace to get your result?

first and foremost i replaced the clamps to both battery terminals as these were past their best and the live terminal was in two pieces(still clamped pretty well actually), replaced the terminal lug on the live wire that runs towards the back of the bus as this was being held by 6-7strands.

Then took the earth off the gearbox and chassis, cleaned up all the mating faces (somehow the one on the gearbox had underseal under it)

Replaced the earth strap under the drivers seat as 50% of the strands had frayed....

all in all, i'm surprised the thing was running at all

I'm no expert, i just follwed every wire until i was happy it was as good as my uneducated eyes could get it.

good luck

Thanks for that. I've done the earths already - I'll check all the lives a lot more closely...

People often don't understand the importance of these connections, they appear in resonable condition with a good connection but when you consider on the coldest of days with thick oil the starter can be drawing over 200amps! the connections and cables have to be in perfect condition in order to carry that sort of amerage.
As a side note*
A faulty ignition switch can also give a similar symptom, they are prone.
£5.81 GSF 30minute job.
Martin