MGB: Starter again about to give up!

Lets hope that it is the starter and nothing else. I replaced my starter a week and a half ago and it had that funny whizzing/squeeky noise when the engine fired up and would stop as soon as the starter disengaged. I posted a topic about this at the same time. The car fired up all the time without a issue and ran great except for the ignition warning light which would come on periodically. I was about to see if I could tighten the belt up a little today to see if that was the issue with it, otherwise I would put a new alternator in.

Anyway I parket my car yesterday afternoon and decided to put it in the garage a few minutes later. The car started up with the usual whizzing/squeeky noise, and stop as soon as the starter was disengaged. A few seconds later there was this loud squeeky noise which sounded like a fan belt or something, so much so that my wife came out and asked what the noise was. I rev'ed the car up and the noise stopped. I turned the car off and then on again and all I heard was the click click when I turned the ignition key to start up.

This is the second starter I have put in since summer, both used, one from a parts car and the other and more recent I bought at Stowe which bench tested ok. Battery is fully charge.

About the throw the towel in :-(

I would go with the gear reduction replacement, I've used both the old conventional and the gear reduction type and in my opinion really prefer the GR replacement. The only complaint I can find with the GR type is the price, they are kinda pricey..

Did you check your ring gear when you put the new starter in? How do you know the starter is disengaging?

Chris,

No I didn't check the ring gear. At the show in Stowe were I bought it, the guy tested the starter for me, so I assumed that it was ok. Do you check o make sure that is disengaging???

As to the clicking! I had a similar issue a couple of summers ago.

It is a good isea to remove all battery terminals once a year and carefully clean. In my case the odd deal was one of my wires was degraded from age. All the damage was hidden in the connector.

My wire was nearly broken. The copper was the beautiful patine color.

I have had very bad luck with used starters.

Rather than by a used starter, I would have it rebuilt. It costs less and there are fewer risks involved.

If you bost the battery will the car start?

I'm wondering if the problem is in fact your alternator and there isn't sufficient charge left to crank the engine.

The starter engages and disengages based on whether current is supplied to the solenoid. What I am wondering is if you might have a bad ring gear and the starter is sticking in some bad teeth. Then, when the engine is running, it is spinning the starter. Just a thought.
I for one have had great luck with used starters. Rebuilds, not so much.

I don't think it is the battery as I had it on charge all night and was fully charged this morning

I could very well be your starter but some of the sounds you noticed could also be the alternator... as well as the some of the other symptons you mentioned.

Try giving the car a bost to see what happens.

Did all of the starters make this same noise?
Sounds to me like you have enough stuff to make up a good starter. On the assumption that this latest starter is making a different noise than the other ones, it sounds to have dry/bad bushings and/or starter drive. Take it out, take it apart, look it over, clean, lubricate, use the best of each, put it back in, go for a drive.

Now, if they ALL made the same whizzy/squeeky noise, well, then,.... let us know what THAT turns out to be. (Ring gear slipping on the flywheel is the only thing coming to MY mind,.... but boy, would THAT be unusual!)

Have you charged the battery up and removed the fan belt, THEN started the engine?

[quote=pooch2]
Have you charged the battery up and removed the fan belt, THEN started the engine?[/quote]

X2. I have one of the MGCcars.com upgrades and the belt fits my main pulley perfectly, but is slightly too wide for the alternator pulley. Squeals just like you describe every now and then on startup.

Here is a thought to weigh in on: I am having the same problem where the starters clicks away when I try to start the car. I have now checked two different starters, the original and a GR from www.britishstarters.com. I also have used two different batteries that are fully charged, still no joy. Now what I have done different than Gerry probably is that I just put my whole drivetrain back in after servicing the transmission. I think what I am narrowing my issue down to is more than one wiring issue. First, I am sure there is supposed to be a grounding strap/wire somewhere between the motor/trans and the body or direct to the battery, but I don't have that installed because I don't recall where it is supposed to go.
Also, I have been going through my wiring, and a lot of my connectors are in really bad shape. So I have begun replacing them with new connectors, cleaning the wires with steel brush and sandpaper, and adding solder in some spots such as the starter/battery to alternator connection on the starter.
So if anyone has experience with the starter issue really being about quality issues in the wiring, I think it would be helpful. I haven't got my issue sorted out, but I am positive the starter and battery are not the problem.

You should have a groundstrap at the motor mount.

Chris, does the strap go from the motor mount directly to an exact point on the body, or do I just pick the shortest path...? Would you see that as contributing to my starting issue? Thanks for your quick response.

Sounds to me your new starter has a solenoid problem. Casing the start to still engage after the key is released. Does your key pull back by itself when released? Usually the ignition switch will stick casing the key to stay forward and continue to kick the starter over.

My battery is fully charged, left it on charge all night. Will test the voltage this eve. I know I might have issues with my alternator, just need to get the car fired up so I can do some more testing with the alternator and belts etc. I think I just might break down and buy a new one. I don't think its the battery because if I put my lights on and turn the ignition, the lights don't dim.

It just might be that the starter I put in earlier was on its way out. It came out of my 77 parts car which had not been fired up in a few years. This starter started to act up not long after the install and began to start sounding "weak" when I cranked the starter/ignition. Eventually it would fire up. The funny thing was that as soon as the car started I would not have any startup issues again until the following morning, or periodically if the car had been left standing during the whole day at work. When this starter eventually died, all I got was the clonk noise when I turned the ignition.

I replaced this starter a week and a half ago. It was a second hand one bought at Stowe. This had issues the first time I started the car up with it installed. I posted a message about this at the time. Basically that squeeking/whizzing noise as soon as the engine fired up and would stop immediately as soon as the starter disengaged, lasting no more than a split second. Now this is dead with the clonk as soon as I turn the key.