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Clutch and starter issue
pekwah1 - 17/12/15 at 08:44 PM

Hi guys,

Big of a strange one for the clever people...

I have a 1999 celica (the 4 headlight one) which has had a weird problem lately with starting. Basically it sounds like I get a small click instead of the starter engaging, doesn't even sound enough to be the solenoid so maybe just a relay clicking when i turn the key. Now I just have a habit of dipping the clutch when I start a car, but strangely, every time I take my foot off the clutch and just start it neutral it has started on the key straight away.... It doesn't always not start, but this weird clutch behaviour has happened too many times to just be a coincidence now unless I'm going mad, but I don't see how a clutch could possibly affect a starter motor especially on a crappy old car like this!!!

Anyway, if anyone has any clever ideas or pointers I'm all ears as its really starting to wind me up!

Cheers
Andy

Dick - 17/12/15 at 09:35 PM

Sound like an engine earth problem to me, try putting a new earth strap between engine and the body/battery

gremlin1234 - 17/12/15 at 09:40 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Dick
Sound like an engine earth problem to me, try putting a new earth strap between engine and the body/battery
certainly plausible, test it with a jump lead; battery neg to block.

pekwah1 - 17/12/15 at 10:42 PM

But why would the clutch have any bearing on this?
Or is it likely to just be an amazing coincidence?

gremlin1234 - 18/12/15 at 12:26 AM

quote:
Originally posted by pekwah1
But why would the clutch have any bearing on this?
Or is it likely to just be an amazing coincidence?
Quite, and I would normally expect it the other way round, but we are looking for a reasonable electrical path. as I suggested, an easy test to rule it in or out is a simple jump lead.
we did have one car where the engine earthed through the choke cable!

r1_pete - 18/12/15 at 07:40 AM

quote:
Originally posted by pekwah1
But why would the clutch have any bearing on this?
Or is it likely to just be an amazing coincidence?


By pressing the clutch you are tightening the cable to pedal and cable to release arm points, creating a better electrical path to earth the engine via the clutch cable - unless its a hydraulic clutch. As above a quick check with a jump lead between battery neg and block is the first step.

pekwah1 - 18/12/15 at 10:12 AM

Cheers guys,

I'll go check all the earths, annoyingly a bit of an intermittent one so will see what i find!

Actually just re-read that, to be clear when i've had problems starting, its actually with the clutch released that it will start!

[Edited on 18/12/15 by pekwah1]

steve m - 18/12/15 at 10:40 AM

quote:
Originally posted by r1_pete
quote:
Originally posted by pekwah1
But why would the clutch have any bearing on this?
Or is it likely to just be an amazing coincidence?


By pressing the clutch you are tightening the cable to pedal and cable to release arm points, creating a better electrical path to earth the engine via the clutch cable - unless its a hydraulic clutch. As above a quick check with a jump lead between battery neg and block is the first step.


certainly plausible,

Andy, ive got some spare battery leads, if you want to add one from the battery to the block ?

steve

pekwah1 - 18/12/15 at 11:18 AM

Cheers steve, still got plenty left over in the garage cheers!
I'm going to go over all of the existing connections first and see if i can find a problem as it doesn't happen all the time, and then maybe i'll add some more....

Just seemed really strange about the clutch.....!

rusty nuts - 18/12/15 at 06:55 PM

Might be worth checking the crankshaft end float, if it is excessive that would put extra load on the starter motor when the clutch is depressed . Common problem on things like MGBs