M52 wont start, starter motor?

[kangman]

Rewind a few months ago

i moved my car onto my drive the night before it struggled a bit to start. Next morning i went to start it and nothing one tick and then nothing. It did not crank but i was getting full electrics to everything

I just replaced the battery with a new one today, same problem so am i correct to assume its the starter??

[DanThe]

It could be ignition switch, or earth problems

[Speedtouch]

Or faulty solenoid, or connections between it and the ignition switch.

Check the engine-to-body earth strap as a first port of call.

[kangman]

Sorry chaps im a bit of a noob to all this

[Speedtouch]

Do you hear a click (of the starter solenoid) as you turn the ignition switch?

[kangman]

Just a single click, but i wont hear it again if i try to crank it for a second time

[Speedtouch]

Strange. Do you have an immobiliser fitted, or EWS?

[kangman]

scratch that you can hear a very faint ticking noise when trying to crank it another time

and no ews or immobiliser

[Speedtouch]

Check the wiring to the starter motor solenoid.

If you have a multimeter or 12V test lamp, you could use it to verify that you're getting 12V to it when you turn the ignition switch...

[Brianmoooore]

First thing I'd do is use a piece of wire to apply 12 volts directly from the battery to the starter solenoid 'start signal' terminal - where the black/yellow connects.

[kangman]

connected it to the black wire, cluster lights came on but didnt start

[Brianmoooore]

Assuming you mean the lights came on when you connected the wire, that suggests a problem with the engine to body earth strap.

[kangman]

push started it and it fired up


started it a second time a spark came from earth strap

third time no spark

also was running very hot

[Speedtouch]

Sounds like the earth strap is loose. Suggest you undo it, clean the connecting points then re-attach it.

[Brianmoooore]

push started it and it fired up


started it a second time a spark came from earth strap

third time no spark

also was running very hot

Getting it running with the earth strap not making connection is potentially an excellent way of f*cking up your engine electrics!!
Why did you do this after I'd already suggested you check the strap?

[kangman]

I had undone it and cleaned it up maybe i never tightened it enough