Similar Pages

STARTER PROBLEMS By Mike Roeder: Hi Everett I had a similar problem on my old Elan, which I traced to the grounding wire for the starter solenoid. If your solenoid is like mine, it's mounted on the bulkhead on the right side, above/behind the carburetors. The main battery +cable bolts on there, and a shorter cable goes down to the starter. A white wire leads from the ignition switch / tachometer to this solenoid. The solenoid itself is grounded only by a wire which was fastened (at one time)under one of the legs by a screw that goes into the fiberglass bulkhead. Mymounting screw had come partly loosened and the ground wire was making intermittent contact. Check that wire. There are several ways to wire up your new starter - the solenoid could be discarded, because you have one on the new starter, or you could keep the solenoid because it makes a nice junction point for that long, expensivepositive battery cable. Let me know how things are connected between thesolenoid and the battery.... I have one of those starters too but haven't putit on yet due to my old starter immediately behaving properly as soon as thenew one was ordered :-) You should also check the condition of the ground strap that should be snaking from one of the right motor mount bolts over to the frame (under carbs, near coil & distributor) Mike Roeder The click tells you that the solenoid coil is operating. Sometimes the solenoid "clicks" but is not making a good connection in the high current switch portion of the solenoid. Contacts can become bad/intermittent after prolonged use. This can be tested (and the car started) by shorting out the two LARGE terminals on the solenoid. To start the car in this manner, switch the ignition on and short the terminals out using a screwdriver, pliers, or other heavy metal object. DO NOT allow the object to touch ground or sparks will fly and metal will melt. On your Elan, this may be very difficult from above! It would be a good way to test the theory when it won't start by itself. The plunger can also become dirty or sticky and a good rapping will temporarily solve, but they can also stick closed, allowing the starter to run continually. The easiest way to stop it if this happens is to disconnect the battery. Good Luck Mr. Electron   page created with Webpage Designer (NS)