Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Engine will not turn over

I’ve a 2009 +4 and have been away on business for 3 months, the car was not started in that period and started fine before I went away. Turned the key, the solenoid clicks away, quite healthily, but the engine does not turn over. Charged the battery overnight, still does not work. Took the starter off turned the ignition key and watched the “pinion”, if that’s the correct name for the bit that jumps forward, jumps forward. Reinstalled the starter and no change, the solenoid clicks, the engine does not turnover. Turned the engine over by hand, turns freely, seems to me like good compression, certainly not stiff to turnover. Any ideas please?

First thought is what is the battery voltage - if it is the same battery from new and it has fully discharged then I guess it might not be able to hold sufficent charge to start the car. Can you try and "jump" start the car?

Does your car have an immobilser? If so is the key battery OK?

Just some initial thoughts.....

Richard, you are a star, jump start got her going. I didn't realise there could be enough power to operate the solenoid so vigorously but not turn over the engine. Just makes me wish I had gone for the easy option first. Good lesson though. Isn't this internet stuff good, I get advice from Australia in the time it takes to make and drink a cup of tea, and the advice works. Thanks.

Glad it worked. Get the battery checked out ... May need changing.

I am told on modern engines the ECUs can be quite picky about voltages etc.

On my '76 4/4 I don't have such worries

Much has been said in the forums about the efficacy of battery conditioners when the car is left for long periods. I have used a CTEK XS3600 for over two years and the car bursts into life every time. Highly recommended.

Well I'll add my pennyworth. Canadian friends TR6 resides in my barn and I try to start it up and run it every week. I was out of action for two weeks and had to jump start it afterwards. I swapped the cTek from the Mog to the Tr and went to England. I have returned now so thought I'ld give the TR a go- she burst into life.

My CTEX is superb but I guess they are only as good as the battery and it is best to leave it on as a conditioner than to use it as a charger....

3 weeks ago had an experience with a FULLY dead near new calcuim battery left on all weekend in our forklift. if fully dead you cannot charge UNLESS you have a very old style trikle charger. YES we put on to a new CTEX charger and still nothing. take to our auto electrican and he connected to his 10 year charger and all was good after 48 hours. seems these new calcium battery need low teck fixing.

CTEK and other "intelligent" chargers need a minimum voltage to start charging. A fully dead battery is not recognized. What you want to do is give the battery and initial charge with some low-tech device and when it´s up to say 10 volts connect the CTEK.

There is another problem with some intelligent chargers and that is what happens after a power outage (correct word?). Some of them do not resume charging, but rather go into standby and, within some weeks, kill the battery. CTEKs as far as I experienced resume to their previous operation mode after power failure, I have one from Aldi which doesn´t. One might want to look after these things at least every week or so.

I use a CTEKs on my cars and the oldest battery is 7 years now in a Lotus Elise, still going strong although not being used regularly.

Keep charging,
Andreas