[Mgs] Just a "click" when starting

[PaulHunt73]

A 'substantial' click is probably the solenoid operating, but either failing 
to power the motor or the motor is failing to turn the engine.  If the 
ignition warning light barely dims with the click, then it is probably for 
former.  If it dims greatly, then the latter,  possibly because of bad 
connections at the battery, battery earth to body, or engine/gearbox earth 
to body, although these often cause the solenoid to chatter as well.

'Hi torque' starters - there are two kinds advertised.  One claimed to be so 
but is a conventional ungeared starter, and geared starters.  Only the 
latter give the benefits of significantly lower cranking current and higher 
cranking speed, albeit at significant extra cost.  The other ones are just 
more expensive without having much more 'bang for the buck'.  Geared 
starters usually have the *solenoid* in line with the pinion and the motor 
to one side, with the motor slightly smaller than the solenoid, as opposed 
to the conventional very large motor (in comparison to the solenoid) motor 
in line with the pinion.

PaulH.

----- Original Message ----- 
> Sometimes when I get into the car and turn the key to the "start" 
> position,
> there is just rather a substantial "click" sound and nothing more. It 
> always
> starts normally if I turn the key back to "run" and then try again.