engine won't fire

[whipsey]

just a quick one here my m50 swap is all lighting up when the ignition is on but won't turn over the starter clicks but nothing else could this just be a bad earth or a dodgy starter?

[SPADGE]

How many wires do you have attached to the starter mate?

[whipsey]

just the original ones that were on the e34 loom jules do i need to run another one over?

[GeoffBob]

Is your block earthed? Big fat cable that allows the high current that the starter draws to return to chassis/earth? If so, check tighness and cleanliness of bolts/lugs/clamps etc that hold it in place. Slght loosness, either at engine or chassis end, can cause high resistance junction that stops the starter from turning. 'Happened to me twice.

[whipsey]

got two big earth straps one each side of the block

[GeoffBob]

Sorry 'bout that, you replied before I had finished my response, so now it looks edited. See above with regard to checking the state of the connections, but it sounds like you have this angle covered.

[GeoffBob]

Did the starter work OK before? If your heavy current positve and negative connections are in order, then it sounds like you have a faulty solenoid on the starter. Most likely the heavy current contacts that connect the positive line-in (fat red wire) to the actual electric motor, have burned out. So you hear the solenoid click when you turn the key, but no power is applied to the motor itself.

[whipsey]

lol i'm going to check them again any way just to make sure