Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Aero 8, 2012< Plus 8, SuperSports, Coupe & Aeromax Starter click

Well, after a superb weekend in Bath, I drove home today in the Aero (150+miles)
I unloaded the car and left it for a couple of hours until it was slightly cooler before giving it a wash down ready for the garage.
When I came to start it, I got the dreaded “click”. I’ve had it occasionally before, but this time I had to press it 20-30 times before it finally caught.
I’ve read up on the forum and there are different threads on battery and starter. I would have though a long run would ensure the battery was fully charged, is it more likely to be a starter issue? What’s the current (fan fna) thinking?
Simon

with me it was the battery, even thought the 'old' one (Odyssey) was less than two years old.

I had previously checked all the known culprits and finally stuck a new Odyssey battery on - end of problem

I now isolate the power when not in use and only trickle charge for a few hours every couple of days.

Good luck Simon....

James

+1 with James Simon. Wait until it happens again and jump start it n see what happens.

Hi Simon

I've been suffering this with mine. A battery change made no difference for me as the clicking returned within a month.

However putting it in a high gear & rolling it forward or back a few inches did make a difference. Although others on here disagree, I am still suspecting a camshaft or crankshaft position sensor, but have yet to change them to prove the theory

I will follow this thread with interest, so please keep us updated

Kind regards

Ian

Since I fitted the new batt I also disconnect with no drain after two weeks as you would expect.This has come up on the forum many times over the last 10 yrs unfortunately if youve fitted the new batt and still clicks the only remedy is a new starter.And before everyone weighs in with their two pence worth this only applies to the series 1and 2 cars its a peculiarity with this set up.Opinions from the factory vary from heat build up in the starter to corossion of the starter accesability is a nightmare and thats another story.



Em

I would assume the starter as cause.

The starter works in two steps (I assume that this has not changed with today's starters):

Step 1: The gear wheel of the starter is engaged in the gear wheel to be driven ("click" - if nothing happens at all, the engagement mechanism is defective). A contact is actuated which triggers step 2.

Step 2: The starter turns and drives the engine.

If step 2 does not start, step 1 has not been completed successfully. This can have several causes:
The contact that triggers step 2 is not closed (starter gear does not reach the end position) or is defective.

A new battery provides a higher voltage and thus increases the force with which the starter gear is engaged. But I would see that as fighting the symptom and not the cause.

A slight movement of the transmission (moving the vehicle) can lead to better alignment of the two gears and facilitate the engagement process.

I have also experienced that a sensitive blow at the right moment on the starter with a hammer solves the problem (temporarily).

In my experience, the solution is usually a new starter.

In any case: goog luck!

- didn't Cerealsurfer / Millers develop a way to change the starter by cutting a small access panel underneath the car?

Not too sure on the details as never had this mod. done....

It sounds a little drastic but,apparently ,it cut the time/cost involved significantly.I think Millers also fitted a much better starter (Bosch ?) to avoid future problems.

I did investigate this a few years back and was going to book the car in for a service (despite the distance involved!) but it was around the time the business changed hands as Brian (?) retired.

Maybe someone who has had this done could comment.....

James

T50 had it done a few years ago by millers and a couple of years later the clicking started again we swopped batts and it was resolved.Trouble is the belly plate is captive the wrong way round for removal.Middleton at Upton would be worth a phone call ex factory.Mark Baldwin at the factory has changed some after only a year it was a huge difference in price the last time I spoke to him.


Em

This may sound stupid, but have you checked the battery connections? I experienced the same problem several times on my M3W recently until I saw that one of the connections had come loose. Tightened it up and no more clicking.

I do like Michael P's "old sckool" solution. It could be that the starter has come to rest opposite the same area of the gear ring on the fly wheel so many times that the area is very worn hence a rock back and forth will help to line it up on a different sector "perhaps " !!