mystery requires solving

[Bluey]

Hi everyone!
Dave you already have heard of this but I have had no further luck.
For my past sins I have been given a 1988 Ford Escort 1.4L estate to use for fishing trips and my own personal enjoyment(?)
Due to the wife's Renault being poorly she's been using the Escort!!!
Friday she parked it up with no problem, come sunday there was NOTHING when the key was turned, NO click, NO grunt, NO NOTHING.
First diagnosis dead battery, or starter, Tues fitted NEW batt, and NEW starter motor,
NO CHANGE!!!!! still dead, since then I have:-
removed both RED (+) and BLACK (-) leads cleaned, scrubbed and de-greased them, refitted, NO CHANGE
removed lead from ignition key cleaned scrubbed de-greased re-fitted, NO CHANGE
used meter to check all connections for continuity and to make sure voltage was present. All readings gave positive indication all was well.
The mystery deepens cus when the starter is tested on the bench it works OK???
So what do I look for now I have done everything I can think of (apart from ringing the local scrappers)it still has a long MOT DOE call it what you will and long tax so reluctant to dump it.

Any help greatly accepted
Bluey

Born To Fish
Forced To Work

 

[keith]

Do not know if this helps but check the ht leads and plugs.

Golfs a game for people who can't catch fish

 

[Dai Fish]

Have you checked the Earth strap from the engine to the body

Dai Fish

 

[Bluey]

Keith, checked both and are OK thanks

Dai, earth strap for engine comes directly from battery this has been checked for continuity and made sure both conections are clean and sound, however I'm considering making and fitting new lead tommorow as the next step
Bluey

Born To Fish
Forced To Work

 

[teepee]

Hi Bluey, does the ignition light come on when you turn the key,?
have you tried taking the wires off the back of the ignition switch and touching them together so that it bypasses the ign. switch so you'll then know that its not the switch thats at fault, or just arc it across with a screwdriver,

teepee.

 

[Dave]

I still think you've got the wrong starter Bluey, have you cross checked it?
Other than that to check the earth connection is strong enough, bridge the terminals across the STARTER (not battery) with a large screwdriver or spanner and see if the engine turns. If so and if there is a 12v feed from the ignition switch to the starter motor when the ignition key is turned, put an ammeter capable of measuring 30amps inline with the small wire from the ignition to the starter solenoid and measure the current, you should have at minimum 15amps which is what will be needed to activate the solenoid.
If not then the electrical part of the ignition switch could be faulty.

Dave

 

[esox.20]

Faulty Solenoid????
There should be an earth strap on the engine to the bodywork. is this intact clean and tight?

chill out go fishing

 

[Trogg]

Hmmm eccies are famous for dodgy ignition systems, check the relays, fuses & other system parts for the ignition.

If you've got a set of jump leads try putting the black one on a clean (sandpapered) part of the engine & the other end on the negitive terminal on the battery, if that doesn't work try the same thing with a live one to the starter & the other end on the live terminal of the battery.

Without actually being there to check everything through i can't really say to much as its all a job of "eliminating" the neccesary bits piece by piece.

One other thing, did you trickle charge the battery for 48hrs prior to putting it on the car??


Alan

Just cos i ain't postin, it don't mean i ain't watchin

 

[scouse]

hi bluey
it would be cheaper
to join the AA or RAC and let them sort it
or call home start which you can find
in yellow pages
dont forget
penny wise pound foolish

dave

scouse (and proud of it)

 

[norm]

trogg should that not be one on the car body and one on the +positive side of the battery?

thats the way i do it (but am willing to try anything twice lol

i coming to get ya teeeeppeeeeeeee

 

[Dave]

quote:trogg should that not be one on the car body and one on the +positive side of the battery?

Don't try that at home [xx(] lol

The jump leads need to be connected +ve to main starter terminal and not touching the bodywork, engine block, or anything else and -ve to the car body or engine block. Mix them up and we'll hear the bang from here [8D]

Dave

 

[norm]

thats wot i said (lol)

i coming to get ya teeeeppeeeeeeee

 

[Trogg]

Norm

take your time & read it again mate (preferably with glasses & without newky brown) []

You put the earth one on a clean part of the engine & the other end on the negative part of the battery (thus creating a damned good earth) then try turning the engine over if that doesn't work disconnest that one, then put the other jump lead on the starter (ie the live connection of the starter) & the other end onto the live terminal of the battery if the starter spins its t*ts off then you have a problem with the live going to the starter.

Sheesh []


Alan

Just cos i ain't postin, it don't mean i ain't watchin

 

[norm]

lol trogg and dave

i just realised that you were tryng to get an earth not bump start the car (lol)

i coming to get ya teeeeppeeeeeeee

 

[Bluey]

[h1]AAARRRGGGHHH!!![/h1]

the mystery is solved the STARTER itself is duff!!! all that work and its the starter

but why? the damn thing worked twice when we tested it before fitting it just goes to show you ca't get aything reliable these days.
Now I've only got the renault to do, swop the new washer/dryer, rebuild the ajoining fence that blew down an I can go fishig[][][]
My thanks to all who contributed to this I'm grateful ta!!!

Bluey


Born To Fish
Forced To Work

 

[norm]

no probs bluey i always try to help (lol)

i coming to get ya teeeeppeeeeeeee

 

[Bluey]

thanks Norm
when I took it back it turned out to be the soldered joint behined the connector on the soleniod that was broken, five minutes with a hot iron and all was well.
I tell you I was just about to go like Basil Fawlty did. [][]

I didn't think it was the starter cus it went well when I tested it prior to putting it in the car, so it never crossed my mind that it could be faulty, still you live ad learn.
Bluey

Born To Fish
Forced To Work