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Bad Starter?

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TheLastDeadMouse Avatar
TheLastDeadMouse Tim Vollmer
Potsdam, NY, USA   USA
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My starter hasn't turned over for several months now, it started at the end of the driving season last year. I was able to push start the car to get it inside and it ran normally, so I don't believe the starter is frozen to the flywheel. I've cleaned all the contacts from the battery to solenoid, solenoid to starter, the ground on the engine, and the battery to the firewall ground. The battery is charged and is less than a year old. When attempting to start you get a loud click (I assume its the solenoid). When attempting to start normally, the headlights dim, but the starter doesn't turn at all. I have a battery cutoff switch, so I attempted to bypass the solenoid by turning off the cutoff, connecting the battery and starter lead on the same post of the solenoid, then connecting the cut off; the starter didn't turn and no click.

Electrical is probably my weakest suit when it comes to working on cars, can I safely assume the fault lies in the starter?

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AN5L8016 Avatar
AN5L8016 Mark Haynes
Nederland, CO, USA   USA
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yes, starter brushes are the probable culprit- These carry the power through to the commutator ring, which causes the starter motor to turn through electromotive forces.
You can get another starter or try to solder new brushes in. Your choice.



'58 Bugeye
'05 Mini Cooper S

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dlrhine Avatar
dlrhine Dave Rhine
Columbia, SC, USA   USA
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If all else is in good shape (battery, cables, solenoid, wiring, etc), I'd tend to agree with starter issue.
Old school quick test: try to crank & tap the starter housing with hammer, long bar/pipe, etc. ..if it cranks, well there you go, replace starter or clean/replace brushes. If, it doesn't crank, post back & we'll go from there...thumbs up



If it ain't broke, I'll fix it until it is! winking smiley

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ronlcraven Avatar
ronlcraven Ron Craven
Clovis, Calif, USA   USA
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Check your bushing the starter could be dragging.
More than likely you need to rebuild your starter.

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refisk Rick Fisk
Frankenmuth, MI, USA   USA
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Sticking out of the front of the starter is the square end of the shaft. Turn it a couple of times with a wrench. Remove the wrench and try to start the car. If the starter still doesn't work go here.........

http://www.autozone.com/batteries-starting-and-charging/starter/duralast-import-starter/mg/mg-midget/1976/4-cylinders-1-5l-1bl-ohv/860205_23521_0/

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TheLastDeadMouse Avatar
TheLastDeadMouse Tim Vollmer
Potsdam, NY, USA   USA
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A few taps from the hammer and sure enough it started turning. The car even started under its own power for the first time in 6 months or more (what a good feeling that is). I'm guessing I should have this rebuilt though, as its not a stock starter. It looks to be some version of the high torque starter, but I couldn't see any labels. I tried to take some pictures, but its its pretty well hidden in that section of the engine compartment.


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refisk Rick Fisk
Frankenmuth, MI, USA   USA
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Yeah, that's not a stock starter. Carry a hammer in the boot. grinning smiley

In reply to # 2953438 by TheLastDeadMouse A few taps from the hammer and sure enough it started turning. The car even started under its own power for the first time in 6 months or more (what a good feeling that is). I'm guessing I should have this rebuilt though, as its not a stock starter. It looks to be some version of the high torque starter, but I couldn't see any labels. I tried to take some pictures, but its its pretty well hidden in that section of the engine compartment.

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