Hi there

ive just replaced the battery and had the car running in the garage.

Went to work on the other bits that need to be done and the car wont start!

Battery on full charge, tried another solenoid.

Nothing has been changed since starting it on Friday.

All i get is a click from the solenoid, power is getting down to the starter but no turn over.

???????

Help!

Wozza

Check and clean the battery terminals and the earth lead from battery to chassis and also engine earth. If you have an inertia starter it could be jammed, it was a common problem , just put the car into top gear and rock backwards until the engine turns over then try starting. ISTR Fords changed the starter pinion possibly from a 9 tooth to a 10 toothed pinion due to jamming ?

Hi there

thanks for your reply of which i have tried, with still no luck.

All the is happening is the clicking of the solenoid, there is power getting to the starter but it is not turning.

I have taken off the starter, how do i test it? Any thing else to try?

Thanks

Wozza

Inertia starter or pre engaged,? I suspect you have an inertia which will only have one lead ,if that is the case use a pair of jump leads, check if your car is negative or positive earth , connect the earth direct to the body of the starter then touch the other lead to the terminal on the starter, the starter should then spin. Check to make sure the pinion moves towards the starter body in fact it is a good idea to clean the pinion and operate it by hand . DO NOT oil the pinion as it will cause problems . Graphite dust from a pencil is what used to be applied. By the sound of your problem it’s likely to be a sticking pinion.

with the car in gear, rock the car backwards and forwards. Hopefully this will release the pinion if its stuck (assuming you've not removed the starter already). Then try again.

With the starter off make sure the engine turns over either by pushing the car in top gear or putting a spanner on the crank pulley bolt

Cleaned and sorted.

But does not sound too good when turn starting! But hayho.

Thanks

Wozza.

[Edited on 10/3/19 by wozza]

Did you count the number of teeth on the pinion? Fords changed from 9 to 10 teeth years ago . If you have any more problems check the condition of the ring gear on the flywheel , might also be worth checking the number of teeth as there are different ring gears for inertia and pre engaged starters. The later x flow engine used pre engaged probably due to wear /jamming with inertia starters?

I found out the hard way about this. Couldn't get my car to start. Simple fix when I realised, button do different ring gears.

The biggest and best thing to help start my 1700 xflow, was a high torque starter,
the old ford bendix starters were crap to start with, but 50 odd years down the line, there rubbish, and even a recon orginal starter only lasted 6 months before burning out

my last normal starter is or was on the hard shoulder of the M4 having fell off

best place for it!!

steve4