STARTER JUST CLICKS

Battery charged ,all lights nice and bright
all connections nice and clean and tight
but will not turn just clicks. I can bump it and it runs great but will not turn even when warmed up
two terminals on starter,one has 3 wires to it and has voltage,the other has no voltage,even with ignition on…………….help :dontknow:

Have you tried the age-old hitting the solenoid with a hammer, trick?

Could also be a dodgy engine earth lead, or battery terminals, or possibly +ve lead from battery to solenoid. Take off all the terminals and clean them up.

I would go for the hammer trick, happened on my MK2 a lot

sorry can I say Mk2 on here without someone wanting to banish me

could be the ignition there is a way to test

on the starter theres a spade terminal with a wire on remove this

connect a think piece of wire to the spade on the starter

 turn on the ignition so the dash lights up

take the other end of the wire that you connected to the starter and touch it to the live side of the battery

 if it still clicks that means your starter is fudged if it spins over then you ingition is at fault

enjoy :wink:

I am suffering a similiar problem to KAR-MANN.

I am going to try swapping the starter motor - my car is a '89 1.8 Cab.
Should I be looking for a Mk1 or Mk2 starter as a replacement?

Thanks Rob.

Either will fit; the Mk2 has a 3rd hole/lug, which is unused when its fitted to a Mk1 so its not an issue.

i've just had the same problem with my karmann. i changed my gearbox and clutch, but couldn't get the thing to start after, and the starter was just clicking like you said.
the way i found was that i tested my starter tyo see if it was lazy by attaching it to a car battery with a set of jump leads. if it works on the battery, it is an earth problem. if the starter seems lazy, get another one and try that.
I had to get a replacement starter, but that still just clicked, so i put a seperate earth from the negative battery terminal to the suspension leg (or any part of the chassis), then i earthed the engine to the chassis too ( i went from the other suspension leg to the alternator adjuster), and this sorted my problem.
I hope this helps!
dan

This can be caused by a build up of corrosion around the gearbox mount to gearbox.  Extra earths will help or cleaning the contacts.

Cheers

Rich