MG Car Repair: 1969 MGB - Starting Issues, starter solenoid, jumper wire

Question
QUESTION: I have an 1969 MGB that won't start.  I had noticed that prior to having issues the starter would turn over slow.  After cycling the key the starter would spin fast.  The other day, I hopped in and turn the key and nothing - It didn't even attempt to turn over, no clicking, nothing.  I crossed the 2 poles on the the starter solenoid and it pulled in but the starter did not turn over. Thinking it was the solenoid, I changed it out, still nothing!   Need some help here, any ideas??

ANSWER: Hi Paul,

You need to test the solenoid first before replacing it. Just take a jumper wire and connect one end to a power source and touch the post on the solenoid that has the white w/red tracer wire on it. The solenoid should "Click" and activate the starter motor. If it does not, then you do have a failed solenoid.

If the solenoid does activate the starter motor but the key does not then you need to test the starter relay (which operates the solenoid) If you need a test sequence let me know and I will go over that too.

Howard

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Howard,

Thanks for the advice.  I touched the posts and the solenoid activated but the motor did not turn.  I purchased and installed a new solenoid and still have the same problem.   When I turn the key the fuel pump primes and that nothing else.  

Don't know if this is related or not, but I was checking voltages, when I put my hand on the coil it was very warm??  

The car was running fine prior to this, I drove it to work every day (Provided the weather was good - no rain, snow only sunny days!

Answer
The next test of the solenoid was to take a large screw driver and short between the two large posts of the solenoid and it should spark and the starter motor should spin. If it don't, then test for voltage at the battery post on the solenoid at the time you trigger the solenoid with a wire on the small post that the white w/red tracer wire is on.

You need to know if there is 12v on the large solenoid post with the battery cable while the solenoid is active. If there is 12v then check the large post on the solenoid that is connected to the starter motor itself when you activate the solenoid.

If there is not 12v, the solenoid is bad and if there is 12v, put you positive test probe on the case of the starter and the negative test prob on the negative post of the battery and activate the solenoid again. If you see voltage then you have a bad ground strap between the engine and the frame. If you don't see any voltage, then you have a bad starter motor.

The fact that it ran before is useless information, because all engines that stop running ran before. As for the warm coil, all coils gt warm when the key is on for a while. The ignition system has nothing to do with the starting system.

Run the tests and let me know,

Howard