325 auto j reg not starting

[Bally]

Hi need some help car won't start checked battery and tried jump leads but same issue . When I turn the key the ignition lights come on and I hear a click engine will not turn, same click when in park, neutral, drive, reverse. With. Head light on when I. Turn key and I hear the click the headlights stay the same ie they do not dim. Think it may be faulty switch that stops you starting the car in gear but do nott lknow where it is located any ideas as to cause or any tests I can try would be appreciated at work till late today and doing an early sunday so will try any suggestions suinday pm
Thanks

[magpie]

try pressing the brake when you turn the Key ,it it could be the starter motor so try giving it a whack .

[daimlerman]

Sounds like the starter motor is either goosed or stuck in the flywheel ring gear.
As magpie suggests,a block of wood fed down to the starter and thump it with a large Birmingham spanner.

Proper,long-term fix will be a new starter motor.

[daimlerman]

Before bashing the starter to death as suggested by the ancient dulux man, try jumping pins 11 and 14 in the diagnostic socket. This will bypass all possible faults in the shift mechanism inhibitor, ignition switch, immobiliser etc.



If this does not help, check the start connection on the solenoid (black or black/yellow wire) and check the ground connections between battery->body->motor.

But,cubbyman,the OP say's the thing just clicks,this must be either a stuck ring gear,or a goosed starter,isolating via the diagnostic socket will give exactly the same result?
Giving the starter a belt,may,just,shock the pinion free and is a whole lot easier than unbolting the thing to achieve the same effect.

BUT;

The long-term fix is to swear(A lot)whilst swapping the starter.

[johnl320]

Lights don't dim so being an auto it might be thinking its in gear. Surely bridging the two connections in the diagnostic socket will confirm a lot more than a whack to the starter, that comes later

[TPS]

I would personally try the Pin thing first, then replace the starter if that doesn't work.

[daimlerman]

Lights don't dim so being an auto it might be thinking its in gear. Surely bridging the two connections in the diagnostic socket will confirm a lot more than a whack to the starter, that comes later

But the starter relay is clicking....

[johnl320]

Fair point. Well done Daimlerman you are the best.

[TPS]

He certainly is!

[daimlerman]

[daimlerman]

An alternate way to free a jammed starter motor is to rock the car with it in gear...but I am not sure if this will work with an autobox!

Health and Safety note;only try this with the car ign key in your pocket.....

[johnl320]

I still don't think its the starter

[daimlerman]

I still don't think its the starter

So if it's not the starter motor,what do you think it is?

[TPS]

An alternate way to free a jammed starter motor is to rock the car with it in gear...but I am not sure if this will work with an autobox!

Health and Safety note;only try this with the car ign key in your pocket.....

My first car, (a Purple 1978 Vauxhall Chevette, what a chariot!), had the same problem, put it 3rd gear, violently shake the car, you'd hear it free itself, carry on motoring

[johnl320]

I also had a chevette that you had to put in reverse, press the clutch and try to start so that it lurched backwards, had to do this every morning to free of the clutch, it was the only way that seemed to work, weird or what

[daimlerman]

An alternate way to free a jammed starter motor is to rock the car with it in gear...but I am not sure if this will work with an autobox!

Health and Safety note;only try this with the car ign key in your pocket.....

My first car, (a Purple 1978 Vauxhall Chevette, what a chariot!), had the same problem, put it 3rd gear, violently shake the car, you'd hear it free itself, carry on motoring

Same trick worked with my 2nd car,a 1967(E plate!) mini...b loody heck,I must be old....I re-built the engine with Osseli tuning bits,then traded it for a brand new MG Midget,I struck lucky there,it was one of the first with round rear wheel arches,now very sought after!

[johnl320]

I still don't think its the starter

So if it's not the starter motor,what do you think it is?

Me thinks the starter isn't getting a signal, just a hunch

[daimlerman]

I still don't think its the starter

So if it's not the starter motor,what do you think it is?

Me thinks the starter isn't getting a signal, just a hunch

You may well be right,but the OP says that he hears a click,this indicates to me that the starter is getting the message,but is shrugging it's shoulders and saying that it does not want to play...,ie,it's goosed or the pinion has run up the shaft and got stuck....

[e30topless]

An alternate way to free a jammed starter motor is to rock the car with it in gear...but I am not sure if this will work with an autobox!

if it's auto then sadly not !


turn the donk over with a 22mm socket on the front pulley then try..
I have never seen/known an M20 starter fail ?