MG Car Repair: Starting & noise when turning off engine, starter relay, battery connections

Question
1) Random start up problem..needed a jump! Lights worked, battery connections clean & tight; starter connections also good.  Where should I look / test & how??
2) The last couple of times I stopped my vehicle I hear a clicking sound; don't know the location it's coming from.
"How would you attack this?" 1977 MGB w/o overdrive!

thanks again in advance for your knowledge!
pete


Answer
Hi Pete.  The 77 B has a relay that operates the solenoid on the starter, and it does tend to fail with the symptoms that you describe.  

The starter relay is up near the fusebox.  You will probably find two or more relays hanging there.  The starter relay is the one which has 4 wires into it - Black, Brown, White with a Red stripe, and White with a Brown stripe.  By 77 they were using circular canister relays that are sealed for life, so just replace it.  

The click when you stop the car is the other relay, which powers the ignition accessories.  As you turn the ignition off, it clicks off.  This is normal.  Try holding the relay and getting someone to turn the ignition on and off, and you should be able to feel it clicking.