Triumph Repair: Triumph Spitfire starting problem, triumph spitfire 1500, starter solenoid

Question
Hi Howard

Im struggling to get my 1977 Triumph Spitfire 1500 to start. Previously i could not get the car to turn over on the key although she would start with a push start. The starter motor was found to be faulty so i replaced that with a good reconditioned one. But now she still wont start (i did test the new starter motor before fitting it and it was fine). So, starting at the load end and carrying out some tests, i now find that i have no power at the starter motor nor at the bottom post of the solenoid although i do have power (all the time) at the top post of the solenoid and the trigger wire to the solenoid also lights up my tester on turning the ignition to start. Thinking the solenoid was at fault, i have now tried two brand new solenoids and still the problem persists.  

If i bridge the two main posts of the starter solenoid with a screwdriver the car will turn over.

Could the problem be the starter relay? If so, how do i test it? Or what else could be the problem? Im thinking that as i have power from the ignition switch to the solenoid then all is good with the ignition switch itself. Am i wrong to think that?

Thanks, Tony

Answer
Hi Tony,

If you have power at the small lead on the solenoid with the key in the "Start" position then the starter relay is ok and working. If when you have power in the "Start" position at the small terminal on the solenoid then the solenoid is either bad of you have the wire on the wrong terminal on the solenoid.

There are two small terminals on the solenoid. One is for the start wire (white w/orange tracer or white w/red tracer) and the other (white w/yellow tracer wire to the ignition coil)

To be sure you ID the correct terminal just take a jumper wire and connect one end to the upper large post (battery cable) and touch each of the small terminals one at a time to ID the "Start terminal". One will activate the solenoid and the other will not. The one that activates the solenoid gets the White w/orange or red wire and the one that dose not activate the solenoid gets the White w/yellow tracer wire.

If neither small terminals activate the solenoid then the solenoid is bad.

Howard