Starter motor just clicks

[W1ggz]

and video it

[jjmartin349571]

Just to add my 2p - my BB4 has no brakes atm, and when I roll it around to move it I leave it in first, dip the clutch, then when I want to stop let the clutch up. It's surprising how well engine braking will stop the car.

As for testing if the engine is seized (which I don't think it is ), my mechanic gave me an easy method of checking - put the car in 5th and jack one side up (or both can't remember which way round it is and if an LSD effects it ) and see if you can turn the wheel. If it can be turned by hand all is fine

[wurlycorner]

I've got a mate coming tomorrow to try a pull start using tow rope, see how it goes. Although he has worked in the battery industry and has said it could be a dead cell in the battery, which will allow everything low current to work (so the dash comes on etc) but as soon as you put it under load the battery "dies" in effect.

This is certainly true. It's even possible to get individual cells reverse their polarity (never quite got my head round that one, but have seen tests to confirm it's happened).

If you'd disconnected from the current battery though, that would rule that out?

Could be poor earth stopping sufficient current getting through (disconnecting the battery wouldn't change that). Are they decent jump leads you're using?

[Donald]

I've got a mate coming tomorrow to try a pull start using tow rope, see how it goes. Although he has worked in the battery industry and has said it could be a dead cell in the battery, which will allow everything low current to work (so the dash comes on etc) but as soon as you put it under load the battery "dies" in effect.

This is certainly true. It's even possible to get individual cells reverse their polarity (never quite got my head round that one, but have seen tests to confirm it's happened).

A bit off topic but since when does that matter...

The entire sun reverses it's polarity I'm sure a battery can manage it.

[Gayno]

Good news - engine isn't seized!

Pull start got it going, so all is well.

Tried a different battery from a working car, still the same. We traced the electrical route and found 12v going into the solenoid, 12v coming from ignition, but 0v coming out of solenoid when trying to start. So there's the problem, the actual solenoid!!

[lewd lude lover]

Great news mate! had almost the same thing on the van last week..

But think yourself lucky as this was the other way round.

Van sat parked up in the field suddenly decides its going to try and start!!! Missis thought some pikey scummer was trying to hotwire it. By the time I got there with a spanner the cables were red hot and we were about 20 seconds away from a blown starter motor.

Opened up the relay and it was full of gunge leaking charge all over the place.

[wurlycorner]

I'm glad that all is well

[NafemanNathan]

Give it a clout.

So when you tested it out of the car did the solenoid kick it out?

...

So there's the problem, the actual solenoid!!

[Gayno]

Ah ha, see I'd given it a clout, lots of them actually!

And when out of the car, it was just the motor part, not the whole assembly.

+rep for you anyway!

[NafemanNathan]