Starter motor or battery problem?

[PhilTimo]

Just been out for an essential journey in my 3.5 AA.
Stopped for a coffee and after literally 2 minutes, realised I'd left the lights on, so I turned them off.
When we were about to leave about 20 minutes later, the car wouldn't start. It was making a rapid clicking noise. The lights were bright and the gauge was showing 14.3v.
Some kind biker chaps gave me a push start (embarrassing or what!).
When I got home it started no problems on 4 attempts.
PS. This happened to me the first day I owned the car 3 months ago, again involving the lights.
Your thoughts people?

[autobackup]

Sounds like the solenoid is not firing the bendix gear on the starter motor.

This is usually solved by removing, cleaning and replacing the power supply to the starter motor.

Sometimes 'grunge' has actually got into the bendix - in this case you will need to disconnect and remove the starter motor and then clean and lubricate the bendix gear before reinstalling and reconnecting the starter motor.

Finally sonetimes the bendix simply 'sticks' as it's out of sync with the flywheel - rocking the car in gear sometimes frees it up!

[PhilTimo]

Thank you, But why does it only happen when I've left the lights on?!

[autobackup]

It might simply reduce the battery voltage enough for high resistance at the starter power connection to fail to fire the bendix.

If it were me, as a starter for 10, I would simply remove, clean and vaseline the starter battery connection and see if that sorts out the problem?

[PhilTimo]

Thanks - its just been serviced at the factory!

[autobackup]

As an afterthought I would also clean and vaseline the battery terminals!

[mapes]

At the risk of me sounding a bit thick, I think you may simply have a flat battery. I've had situations where the lights are bright but the stater motor simply makes a clicking sound and the problem was just that battery didn't have enough oomph to start the motor. Atom batteries need to be regularly charged if the car is laid up for any time. Most owners use a trickle charger, or (as I have finally got round to doing) fit a battery isolator switch. Dare I say that maybe that's all your problem is..

[Namastebuzz]

Most owners use a trickle charger, or (as I have finally got round to doing) fit a battery isolator switch. Dare I say that maybe that's all your problem is..

What's the purpose of the isolator? Is power drawn from the battery even when everything's switched off?

[mapes]

What's the purpose of the isolator? Is power drawn from the battery even when everything's switched off?
[/quote]

Yes, the immobiliser draws power, enough to flatten a battery after a few weeks in my experience...

[K20A2]

I would also tend to a flat battery.
Perhaps your gauge is not correct.
14,3V sounds quite high and is almost charging voltage.

[K20A2]

I may be wrong though, if you have LiFePo battery.
Then 14.3V would be in the range.
A normal battery in good condition would be about 12.4 to 12.8V.

[PhilTimo]

I have the battery on the trickle charger constantly.
The issue of it not starting only occurs when I've left the lights on, even for as little as 2 minutes

[mapes]

Maybe an obvious one, but can't help but mention it.. are your battery terminals/connections clean and tightly screwed up?

[autobackup]

I'm not sure if the power lead to the starter motor terminal would be disconnected and cleaned during a factory service - I would suggest that you consider giving Steve Rooke at the factory a call tomorrow and ask.

- you could also run the symptoms past him at the same time to get his opinion of what might be causing the problem?

[Karl V]

I must admit, I made a slight tweak to the wiring of the lights within the first 2 months of ownership. Now, the entire lighting circuit turns off with the ignition.

Apparently this is not good because you are supposed to be able to have the side lights on without the ignition circuit live, but I just didn't trust myself to remember to turn off the lights - or trust others not to switch them on when I'm in Tesco.

Doesn't help your immediate concern I know, but unfortunately you are not the first to leave the lights on - and won't be the last

There really should be some form of buzzer for when the ignition is off and the lights are still on - or maybe a dash LED. My Vauxhall Nova had that in 1988.