(Home) Starter failure, voltage low

Just had to call out the AA after the townie refused to start, turn the key and it just clicks. I have had this problem b4 but usually cured it by jump starting it, this time it refused. The AA man tried to jump it but it wouldnt have it so he smacked the starter with a hammer and hey presto it started!
When he was under the car he tested the voltage to the starter and commented that it was only 8 volts and that this was low. He also went on to tell me that he had seen many townies suffering from this problem and went on to suggest a cure.
His idea (as I understood it) was to use the small connector from the solenoid (8 volts) to one pin on a relay to operate it then take 12 volts direct from the battery to another pin on the relay then from another pin on a relay back to the terminal on the solenoid therby giving the starter a full 12v to operate it.
Does this sound okay?
I will be removing the starter and refurbishing the contacts after christmas but just wondered if it was worth carrying out the AA mans advice.

Any thoughts?

Steve

- (#6521) Steve Taylor, 24 Dec 02

Yup, common problem, that fix is well documented in the archives. You can also run another wire from the ign. switch straight to the starter solenoid- sorts the bug, but you loose the inhibitor switch on the autobox...

- (#6522) david miller, 24 Dec 02

Cheers Dave
On the off chance do you know the relevant connections on the relay (I know they have numbers on)

Steve

- (#6523) Steve Taylor, 24 Dec 02

Off the top of my head, (well, actually a quick look in a book...) 85 and 86 are coil with 86 being the +ve end, 87 and 30 are the contacts- if you want to be picky, 30 is live in.

- (#6524) david miller, 24 Dec 02

As an addition to David's splendid advice, when I had the problem, I did find that with the starter solenoid contacts really clean and mating correctly, a good clean of the battery terminals made all the difference.
Also, if you do dismantle the solenoid and it's contacts, be wary of the spring and ball housed in the hollow shaft. The engine repair manual, part No RMO25E, shows it all

- (#6525) John Davis, 24 Dec 02

had the same problem myself. tried the relay, (had done this on other cars), worked for a while, but then problem re-occured.
found starter switch circuit goes through a switch on gearbox to prevent starting in "drive".
tested switch, found it slightly high resistance. adjusted switch as much as possible, which is hardly at all!. problem gone. that was 8 months ago!
the switch is a little "box" where the gear select cable comes onto gearbox, it contains two switches, one for park & neutral, (for starter) and one for reverse lights.
hth.
ed.

- (#6526) eddie arrowsmith, 30 Dec 02