Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Aero 8, 2012< Plus 8, SuperSports, Coupe & Aeromax S1 starting gremlin

Something very strange happened today.
I wanted to start the car and all I've got was a loud 'klang' sound from the enginebay.

This was not the regular S1 ticking noise where you have to twist the key 3 times for a reset. Weird.
I popped the bonnet open, gave the engine an angry look and the car started fine from the first try.

Someone familiar with this problem? The car will be in for service soon, but I'm just curious what the cause could be.

Wow must remember not to upset you in the future

Sorry not much help but I'm sure Cereal will be along in a minute or two...

Has the car been stood for some time? Sounds like something had siezed?

No, that's the strangest thing. It ran fine the day before, engine was cold. I guess it has something to do with my battery tender? It sounded like a electrical problem, not mechanical.

Anyway, the gremlin is gone, but it's in the back of my head now. It will probably come back when I'm parked in front of a fancy restaurant with a beautiful date beside me.
And I have to be careful with my angry look, when there are women around. Sigh.

Klang sounds expensive, might be a pre engage starter becoming cog bound but probably not if it then started after lifting the bonnet, have I got that right?

How many miles on the clock?

Chris

I suspected the Starer gear hitting the flywheel teeth. Probably just shifted the fly around so 2nd go started ok.

It's got 31000 miles (50.000km)on the clock, Chris.
Thanks Cereal, that's a possible explanation. Though it made the expensive KLANG sound a couple times. Later that evening it started fine. As it did today.

I wanted to take it out for lunch, the KLANG sound made me take the daily driver and off course, what car passed me on route to the restaurant? A **** Morgan Aero 8!

Unbelievable.

It happened again today!

Here is a quick video, sometimes it starts fine, sometimes it just says 'KLANG' 'KLANG' 'KLANG'.

http://s48.photobucket.com/albums/f227/spudgun22/?action=view&current=V310309_1025.flv

I guess I'll wait for it to start again, and then drive straight to the dealer...

Cerealsurfer, your thoughts?

For me, this sounds, like the starter motor engages, but won't crank the engine. Have you checked your battery charge?

If the charge is OK, it might be the "brushes" (I hope, this is the correct expression. It's the sliding contacts on the starter motor rotor) Nothing really expensive.

It doesn't look very classy... but if you come along this problem, and you give the starter some "technical tapping" it might work, and start. Not a permanent solution, though..

I had the same symptom on one of my former cars. A 100gr hammer was my permanent companion, that time.

Good luck,
Ivo

Thanks for your insights Ivo, my first impression was battery related, but I'm not that brilliant in mechanics.

A 100gr hammer? Travelling in style!