Earth/Starting Problem....

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Davenotouring
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Post Sat Dec 10, 2005 4:32 pm

Got the touring back but......

I was driving back from Milton Keynes the other day, and after filling up with fuel, I drove down the road....

Flicked the full beam on (probably unrelated?) and the temp gauge went all over the shop and this was exactly the same thing happened before. I then turned it off (still rolling so I could jump it) and it just clicked when I tried to start it. I then bumped it to get it home.
Now, trying to start it, it just clicks. Like it's earthing.

As I said, this happened before and the engine earth strap was loose :roll: but it's not loose this time.

Any ideas before I cry....again!?
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Brianmoooore
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Post Sat Dec 10, 2005 6:16 pm

Could be any of the big fat wires in the battery to starter motor loop.
Hold the key in the start position for several seconds. (Have the bonnet open abnd watch for smoke while you do). Feel all the relevant connections to see if any are hot.
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Davenotouring
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Post Sat Dec 10, 2005 9:07 pm

This is what happened before, I kept trying then smoke starting coming from the starter motor area, but it turned out it was the main sump earth strap.

I will try that tomorrow, cheers Brian.
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michael24m
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Post Sat Dec 10, 2005 9:32 pm

that happened to me twice, in my case, turned out that the leads to the battery weren't tightened enough(i just tightened the leads bolts by hand) then i used the pliars to tightened it more and it worked after that.
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e30-320i
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Post Sun Dec 11, 2005 1:29 pm

this sounds like the problem wilson had when we fitted his new engine it turned out to be the brown earth from the block to the chassis it looked fine but the car just wouldnt start as soon as we replaced the earth it started first time
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Brianmoooore
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Post Sun Dec 11, 2005 2:03 pm

e30-320i wrote:this sounds like the problem wilson had when we fitted his new engine it turned out to be the brown earth from the block to the chassis it looked fine but the car just wouldnt start as soon as we replaced the earth it started first time
If you have a check control fitted, there is a parallel earth to the engine block to chassis strap, in the form of a brown/orange wire from the oil level sensor to the earth connector on the RH suspension turret.
If the main earth strap is faulty, then the starter current flows through the small wire in the engine loom. This will result in the car being declared an insurance write off.
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