Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Morgan 4/4 1.8 ford Zetec - wont start

Before I panic can anyone offer any advice. The car has a fully charged battery. The car tries to turn over but soon stops resulting in a rapid clicking noise. The starter motor is not jammed (tested by rocking back and forth in gear)

Any suggestions please

Pre engaged starters tend not to jam. The rapid clicking noise is likely to be the starter solenoid fluttering without engaging the starter gear. First job is the check the battery terminals. First on the battery. Prime suspect is the +ve terminal. Take them off and clean them up. Make sure they are tight. If that doesn't work, next do the earth to chassis connection and the +ve lead to starter solenoid connection. If that doesn't work report back!

Steve

Which Zetec? What age is your car? Black top or silver top engine?
Where is the battery located?
If you have the underbonnet battery (DMS Red 750), it could be the problem.

Bud

__________
2003 - 4/4

I'm not the most mechanically minded soul on here.... But......

My tractor does this. The starter motor clicks and the engine doesn't turn.... This is despite all the other electrics operating fine. This is because the battery is knackered - so I jump it off a starter pack thing and it turns over just fine. Because its a tractor, I haven't bothered to replace the battery.

Could it be that your battery is kaput?

As Dave said check the engine earth first, if it does turn out to be that check the throttle is free afterwards, as the cable can melt, because the engine will use the throttle cable as an alternative earth, as its so small it gets hot and melts causing the throttle to stick.

If it's not that take the battery to a garage and get them to check the battery with a battery tester as it my read over 12.4 volts on a multi meter but still have a dead cell causing you a problem.

Once I had a car that wouldn't turn over, everything checked out fine until I took the plugs out, turns out the cylinders had filled up with antifreeze as the head gasket was leaking into the engine.

One of the last tricks my MGBV8 played was this, and I spent a lot of money being too clever for my own good. New starter, new batteries, checked all the connections. This was over a few weeks and nothing made any difference. It turned out to be a hairline crack in the positive battery terminal connector. In a final act of desperation I put a spanner on the clamp for one last pull. When I did this, it disintegrated into two parts. I felt relief and stupidity in equal measures, and had spent over £200 to fix a £3 clamp.........
Moral? - don't be too clever for your own good. (Until next time).

Hi all I am so sorry. I have not got back - it was the battery so dam simple!

Thanks for posting the fix.

V good advice DaveW...when my bro and I were in our teens and driving round in bangers the local garage guy told us just that. Look for the obvious and cheapest fix first. He was a great guy and helped us out endlessly. His words still ring so true today!!