MGB: Starter Issues

Ok, so I have a starter issue that i think i have figured out but i thought id get some opinions...

Here is the story...of the 74 MGB

The DPO (dredded previous owner) had wired the car to start from a push button switch on the radio console. The switch looked cheesey and i just wanted to get back to the original form of turning the key to start it. The switch simply made a connection from the fuse block to the starter solinoid. At any rate after searching to no end and finaly finding the abandoned wires i rewired in the starter relay per the wiring diagram... with the white/red wire from the ignition switch to the winding of the starter relay, the black wire from the other winding post to ground. Then there is the brown wire from the fuse block to the contact term and finaly the white/brown wire that connects to the starter solinoid to the other contact post.
So with the relay back in to play i turn the switch and nothing...
However i still have the switch that bypasses the relay and the car will start with the switch...
So to me it seems as if the starter relay is bad....
To confirm this i did a bit of testing... when i turn the key i get 12V across the white/red and the black (across the windings), so it should be closing the contacts, right... however if i take a resistance measurement across the contacts of the relay when i turn the key i still get an infinate resistance...
So from my limiter electrical knowledge... voltage applied across relay... no shutting of contacts = bad relay.... right?

Your last line looks right to me. Try tapping on the relay while sombody holds the ign switch to the start position. If your car, like mine, has two relays, they are identical. you could try the other one in that position and see what you get.

Thanks John,
I just wanted the backup before i spent the money and ordered the new relay... unfortunitly the 74's dont have the other relay in them so i dont have the luxury of an onboard spare...

You don't have to order a relay. Take it to a local parts store, a REAL parts store, not Auto Zone or some other "blister pack" hobby store. A good parts man can look at it, get into his illustrated parts guide and find a match for it.

Ill give it a try... thanks

You don't even have to go to an auto parts store for a relay. Any Radio shack has generic auto relays of the type you need. Since based on your comments about the DPO mods, originallity is probably not an issue, the Radio Shack relay is about $6 or $7 dollars, and a bargain. I have two on my car and have had no problems.

Details on relays and other electrical item can be found on Skye's page
I basically rebuilt my entire electrical system using the info I found there.

Ed

Here's the link to the relay write up

http://www.mgbexperience.com/electrical/relays.html

Ed

Isn't a good parts man almost a lost art?

Not lost yet, we got JDW..