8v doesn't turn over.

[JimR]

Hi all, I've just (yesterday) bought another mk2 after selling mine last year, drove it home from Guildford to Bedford fine, parked it on the drive. I've gone out to start it this morning and it doesnt even turn over, just get a single click noise that sounds like its coming from the ecu or behind the scuttle in that area.
Would appreciate a list of things I should check out or look for, I'm fairly handy with a spanner and a multimeter, I started it 4 or 5 times when I looked at it, it was a little hesitant cranking but started every time.
Thanks in advance
James

As an edit, I am getting 12v at the starter motor trigger wire but the main terminals are quite badly corroded, I couldn't get the nut off to clean them up.

[mk2bal]

Maybe try giving the starter a tap with a hammer or similar, it could be sticky maybe if you said it didn't turn over greatly before? I assume if the car drove fine before its not a belt or dizzy timing issue.. Either that or the battery is flat with not enough juice to engage starter?

[JimR]

Everything else is good, battery is only a month old and has 12.5v across the terminals, fuel pump primes on turn of key, also runs when key is at ignition start, I'm sure it's a duff starter motor to be honest, I'll take it off and test it and see where I go from there. Cheers for your response, any other ideas welcome.

[Mr Blue]

Put the ignition on and bridge the main red wire to the red/black wire terminal (in neutral). If it starts its corrosion on the terminal or ignition switch.

What part of bedfraud are you as i have a starter if you need it.

[JC]

have u tried the old trick of stick it in 2nd, rock it forward to turn the engine a tad ( iginition off of course ) and then tried it again,

sometimes works if the hitting with hammer doesnt

[i_am_me]

check to make sure that the live feed from the battery is making good contact with the starter and that the engine/gearbox earth is good aswell,
if the starter solenoid is activating then the only problem can be with the main circuit through the motor its self,if all the connections are ok and the battery is good and its still not working then your starter motor itself is probably the fault

[JimR]

Mr Blue, I'm the other end of your road, I see your car almost daily, opposite buckdales. I tried undoing the main terminal of the starter and it snapped the terminal off so I need a new starter motor regardless, will try bridging it tomorrow as I don't even think the solenoid is engaging. I'll keep you updated, thanks for the replies all.

[DarnPB]

Have you checked the earth straps? The earth lead from the battery should go to chassis then jump across to the engine. Make sure these are all intact or earth the engine to the chassis with a jump lead.
After that, check out your solenoid and starter.

[JimR]

The earth that is bolted onto the front of the block has had it I think, just unbolted it and it's crumbled apart in my hands, it's a short piece, about a foot long and has a 3 pin plug on the other end, are these available anywhere?
Thanks in advance
James

[DarnPB]

Nope. Thats not it. That sounds like your knock sensor. 10 a penny from scrapyards or DannyP may have one.
Follow the -ive lead from your battery down to the chassis. From the chassis, it should jump across to the engine, probably to the bellhousing that connects the gearbox to the engine block.