The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Hello all,
My sprint has recently developed an intermittent starting fault, I will be absolutely fine and spin the engine on the first turn of the key 80% of the time, 10% it will need a few flicks and the remaining 10% I won't get a sausage.
I can hear a click as in a relay pulling in but nothing else. Leaving the car for a while will generally solve it.
It's annoying me as it's stopping me use the car as I've already been stranded once.
It did have a similar issue many years (15+) and took it to an old skool auto electrician who fitted a relay to the starter circuit.
I'm not at all handy when it comes to car electrics which feel a little like a little black magic so any explanations please can they be at the Mr Man level!

Any thoughts?

Thanks
Alex

Alex

I would check the condition of the elecrical connection on the starter solenoid and the starter motor + the engine earth.

Paul

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What Paul said,^^^^^^

The click you are hearing is the relay throwing, so that immediately eliminates the ignition switch and everything else up to the relay.

So, as Paul said, check all the connections out of the relay and into the starter motor as well as the condition and tightness of the engine earth strap. If all this fails to find a fault, then it's pretty much time to call Alun for a recon starter motor!

Steve

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2 door '73 Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine OWF 797M (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine EGP 247T (The Dolomega)
'91 Cavalier 2ltr 8v auto
'95 Cavalier 2ltr 16v auto
Spectrum Auto Services, Servicing, Repairs, MOT prep. Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 45 years and home of Maverick Triumph.PM for more info or quotes.

Hi Alex, Long time no hear. Will you be at TDCIR tomorrow ?
P.M. to follow,
Tony.

Brilliant thanks chaps. I'll have a look at the connections.
Sadly not at the club meeting.

For what it's worth:
I had the same problem on a Herald and it was simply that the battery terminals had stopped making a good contact. Cleaning and tightening had the car back to normal. Worth a look perhaps?
Alan, N Yorks.