[Mgs] Starting Issues

[PaulHunt73]

You will have to track the voltage through the circuit from the key via the 
relay to the starter solenoid.  There are no fuses involved in cranking or 
running the engine.

Do you have an ignition warning light?  If so does that dim right down when 
you get the click?  If so then either battery, solenoid, or engine earth 
strap connections are bad.

If that stays bright then as well as the relay making a click as it operate 
the solenoid makes a clonk.  Normally you can't hear them as the solenoid 
drowns out the relay and the motor drowns out the solenoid.  So first 
determine whether it is the relay or the solenoid you can hear.  They are 
quite different but if you haven't heard them before, particularly being on 
the 'wrong' side of the car (I presume) when you turn the key, they could be 
confused.  Have someone turn the key while you listen and feel from the 
relay (on the inner wing by the fusebox) side.

If you can hear the solenoid clonk then either it's contacts are bad, or the 
motor itself has failed in some way.

If it's the relay and not the solenoid then test the four connections on the 
relay while the key is turned to crank.  You should have 12v on the 
white/red, brown and brown/white and 0v on the black.

If you have that then the problem lies with the solenoid or the connections 
to it.  Test the connections at the solenoid for voltage.  If you have 12v 
getting onto the solenoid spade from the white/brown then the solenoid is 
bad.

If you have 12v on the brown but not the brown/white then the relay is bad.

If you don't have 12v on the brown then the connection back towards the 
solenoid is bad, but if the previous tests are good that is unlikely.

PaulH.

----- Original Message ----- 
> Recently replaced the water pump on my MGB LE (1980).  It started and 
> drove
> perfectly after that. This morning it would not start and I get a click 
> that
> sounds like it is emanating from the ignition relay which was new since I
> replaced it last week.