Hi all.

Went to start the mini today and it isn't staring. I just get a click.

I've tested the powere going into the solenoid from the big fat battery cable and it is 12.9v. It drops to 11.45 when I turn the key. The brown wire on the solenoid reads 8.2v and the wire going to the starter reads 1.1V.

Is this a solenoid issue?

It's a mg heritage Gemini type starter with the solenoid on it. Can these be bought at repco or the likes?

The battery is new,but has been working fine.

Cheers
Ryan

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Ryan Filippi
Minis In The Gong
[email protected]
www.minisinthegong.com.au

maybe have someone turn the key while you gently but firmly tap the starter motor with a hammer/ wrench etc.. just don't hit the solenoid and don't be too hard.
I used to have this problem *different car* and my mechanic mentioned doing this as a short term fix/ test.

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So what's the last thing you remember...

I'm pretty sure you were..

WRONG ANSWER!!!

Those inbuilt type starter motor solenoids serve two purposes (if they're the ones I'm thinking of) - they connect the power to the motor as well as engaging the pinion to the ring gear. If it's clicking, it sounds like the pinion is engaging, but the motor not spinning.

Just to rule it out, does it make any sort of whirring sound? That would indicate that the motor is spinning but the pinion isn't engaged.

It sounds like the solenoid is making a bad connection. You can test this by using a screwdriver to short the starter terminals, but be very careful, there will be sparks, and make sure you don't touch any grounding point with the screwdriver on the terminals. We had an old merc with a dodgy ignition barrel and we had to start it this way each time.

Not sure what kind of click your getting but last week mine sounded like the teeth were connecting but jammed; top gear, rock it back and forward, problem solved.

First off - check the battery terminals. Clean them and the battery poles, replace the leads and tighten them and then give the battery poles and the lead connectors a coating of vaseline.

The thry the start procedure again. More times than not the "click" is a bad battery connection.

Mike

Ok, thanks guys.

I've checked battery terminals. They seem good to me. Gave them a clean put back together and vasolined them.

I don't think it's the starter jamming on the flywheel as its the pre-engaged started. Although when I do the rocking it in 4th gear trick I do hear it release.

The starter doesn't make any whiring noise. i.e. it's not spinning.

I don't really want to put a screw driver across the terminals. That idea scares me a little bit.

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Ryan Filippi
Minis In The Gong
[email protected]
www.minisinthegong.com.au

This is the solenoid I am referring to.

I'm guessing the arm out the back is used to engage the starter?

_________________
Ryan Filippi
Minis In The Gong
[email protected]
www.minisinthegong.com.au

Would an auto electrician be able to test this? And would they likely have these in stock?

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Ryan Filippi
Minis In The Gong
[email protected]
www.minisinthegong.com.au

it is a pre-engaged starter.
The solenoid first shifts the pinion into mesh with the ring gear, THEN closes a pair of copper contacts to provide current to the starter motor.
I had trouble with one of those MG Heritage supplied geMini starters on Barney, the starter kept spinning when the switch was released.
I took it back but they couldn't duplicate the problem.
They are a Chinese copy of the Hitachi starter used on a Gemini, but I doubt if are as reliable.

Sounds to me as if the copper switch contacts inside are burned. Or, the pinion is not going into mesh properly to allow the switch to work.
An auto electrician (convertible mini?) may be able to help with a replacement Gemini solenoid.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Thanks doc. That's what it sounds like to me to.

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Ryan Filippi
Minis In The Gong
[email protected]
www.minisinthegong.com.au

Anyone kow where I could get one of these solenoids?

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Ryan Filippi
Minis In The Gong
[email protected]
www.minisinthegong.com.au

So this afternoon I pulled the starter out and tested it with my jump starter kit.

The motor spins up fine. I'm guessing the click I hear is the solenoid engaging the pinion but not getting and current to the starter it self.

Where to get a solenoid.

_________________
Ryan Filippi
Minis In The Gong
[email protected]
www.minisinthegong.com.au