[Mgs] [MG-MGB] Starter wiring

[Paul Hunt]

Rubber bumper cars have extra wiring to an additional terminal on the 
solenoid, these wires MUST NOT be connected to anything else if there isn't 
the extra terminal on the solenoid.

The standard solenoid wire is white/red on early cars, and brown/white or 
white/brown on later cars.  The extra wire on rubber bumper cars is 
white/light-green or white/light blue and is the coil ballast bypass wire 
used when cranking.  If you connect this to the battery cable stud it will 
power the coil all the time, and with double the current to boot, which will 
overheat the coil, make some cars impossible to switch off, and flatten the 
battery while parked.  If you connect it to the same terminal as the 
white/red or white/brown you will end up with *reduced* voltage to the coil 
and possible running problems, and possibly a continuously running starter.

This wire is used to give boost voltage to the coil when starting, which 
makes starting easier.  If you leave it disconnected the car will probably 
still start most of the time, but may not under adverse conditions.  There 
is a way of retaining the boost function with either a relay or a diode, but 
you have to know what you are doing.  Better to get the correct starter with 
the 2-spade solenoid.

PaulH.

----- Original Message ----- 
>I just got my Doc Martin gear reduction starter in from Ebay and plan on
> installing it this weekend.  One big question though. When I took it out 
> of  the
> box it appears to have one large lug for the hot cable, and one small  tab 
> on
> the solenoid for the other wire(s).  If memory serves,  there are two 
> wires to
> the solenoid now.  Which one do I hook up and what  do I do with the other
> one?