MGB & GT Forum

I have recently had a strange problem starting my 1977 MGB. I turn the ignition to run, the fuel pump and everything else comes on, but when I turn the key to start nothing happens. I first thought that I had a bad solenoid, and was going to replace it but then the darn car started when I tried it later and ran like a champ. So I drove the car for a while, and when I shut it off to fill it with petrol for it gave me the same trouble, but it eventually started after sitting for a minute. Considering that I do not want to be changing out good parts chasing a phantom problem, would a bad solenoid cause intermittent problems like I have been experiencing? Or am I barking up the wrong tree?

Do you hear a click or just nothing?

I the same problem until I re made the connections at the starter and a fitted a new cable to the relay

There is a starter relay on the 77's. It's on the passenger firewall, behind the ignition relay.

If that goes bad, it won't start. And they can get flakey. They can also be taken apart and cleaned to make them work again.

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Wayne Sanders
Rose Lodge, OR
(TD 4288)

"I don't care to belong to any club that accepts people like me"-joined Willamette Valley Club in 2011

79/65 MGB - Carmine- V-6 - T-5

This car is now very nearly completely done. Sure to find something else, but not now.........And 12 years later, I'm starting to fix things that were new when we built the car. It's pretty well de-bugged!

Definitely in the dirty, corroded, loose wiring connecitons department followed by failing starter relay.

If you get a "click" but not rotation it is more likely starter solenoid/bendix.

No click is likely starter relay / wiring, even possibly ignition switch in the column.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017-08-19 07:38 AM by Ex-Calif.

Phil,
I agree with the previous inputs. If you really wish to analyze the issue and not throw money at parts, it is fairly straight forward. You need a second person to operate a DVM while making these tests. I'm including the diagram of your '77 to make it more understandable. Have your mate place your meter on a scale which will measure 12vdc. Beginning at starter relay first check that the ground wire is good - now have him place the black probe on a good ground, then place the red probe on the brown wire to confirm 12 Vdc is present (this feeds the relay) - next place red probe on red/white wire and while you turn ign. switch to "start", 12 Vdc should be present at red/white (this is what energizes relay to supply power to solenoid), if starter relay is functioning properly you will see 12vdc at the brown/white wire - this wires feeds 12vdc to starter solenoid - your mate will need to access this same brown/white wire at the solenoid to confirm 12vdc is present. It seems like a lot of steps but you mentioned you didn't want to change unnecessary parts. At any point during this test you get a failure of voltage reading, it should indicate to you the area where your problem lies. Best of good fortune locating and resolving your problem, cheers.

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Buz

“Every problem, has a gift in its hands for you”

Hello,

Thanks for all of the replies! Sorry about my delayed response, my work schedule has been trying lately. I went to try and start the car, and it was the same thing again, turn the key and the starter motor wouldn't engage. Upon further examination, the brown and white wire into the starter relay was just slightly pulled out (I have no idea how that happened!). So I pushed it back in ( maybe 3 mm or 1/8 of an inch or less) and she started right up. I am usually not very lucky when it comes to these things so I remain skeptical. I will keep an eye on it and let you know what else I find! Thanks again for your help!