Starter motor wont spin with key

Hi chaps,

When i turn the key starter wont spin,if i put power to red/black terminal on the starter,she fires up fine. i have continuity from ignition switch end of red/black and starter motor end,but no voltage when cranking.i have changed the ignition switch,but still nothing.does this red/black run straight to the starter or does it go through a relay.what is the small black wire for at the starter.this is sending me nuts…any ideas..

cheers

stu

Think the pinion is'nt engaging, by connecting those wires it turns motor, but not engaging pinion. Sounds like the soleniod has gone

If the ignition switch was replaced and you have a good wire from the ignition switch to the starter, then things sound to be maybe messed up a little. Have you tested that you are getting 12v at the red/black wire when the key is turned? It is possible to have replaced the ignition switch with a bad one even if it was new. Did you just install this starter? Could you have mixed up the two wires, black one you ask about, as that would explain things. The red/black should go to the pin marked 50 if you can read it and the black wire to the pin marked 15a.

nice one lads.not getting 12v at red/black on cranking but no breaks in wire (continuity ok).the car starts if i touch power from +ve side of battery to red/black terminal on starter,so tells me starter and solenoid working fine.Good earth from Gearbox.the new ignition switch i just pluged it into the connection block and using screwdriver to turn it,these wires have been tampered with (not by me)looks like an alarm/immobiliser has been removed but they all test ok,ie permanant live,switched live etc…its got me!!!
i must be missing something,the black wire going to the other pin on the starter is a double wire,where/what does this do,where does it come from,the wires to the coil also lokk a bit iffy,but like i say once i put power to the red/black terminal car starts and runs fine!!

just had a look at a wiring diagram, if your connecting the red/black and black wire together your by passing a resistance wire (???? what ever that is) this should be white/lilac wire, think this heads towards ignition coil. so try testing this white/lilac wire. hope this helps!!!

From your run down of things you can stop looking towards the starter or it's connections. I don't see where the year or model is posted, but if you have an older points type ignition then yes that 15a terminal powers the ignition coil during starting, that's normal for points ignitions. The issue is power at the red/black wire connected to the started pin 50. If the wire shows continuity when tested from the ignition switch to the starter connector, then there is no starter relay in the middle and no reason for the starter not to spin unless that wire is not getting powered-up. That happens via the ignition switch and I would test directly at the switch for a) battery power comming in (heavy red wire at position 30) and 2) battery power exiting to pin 50 where the red/black wire attaches. If there is battery power present at the heavy red wire (pin 30) and when the key is turned to start (cranking) there is no power at the pin for the red/black wire, then the switch is bad even if new.

yes,i roger that,i follow,i didn't know if there was a relay in between the switch and startermotor,simple test now,i should have thought that,but there again you dont expect a new part to be faulty…im on the case tomo

thanks mate

i'll let you know the outcome

stu

found and sorted,there was an inline relay in the red/black wire,tucked right up behind the dash.dont know why,but had me going for a while…thanks for the help ladies and gents…..onto the next problem on the list..


thanks again

stu