Morris Minor Owners Club

Car has stood for about 16 years. Put battery on no lights on the dash. Pressed solenoid nothing there. Will see if earth strap is ok. Could it be the key barrel any help would be appreciated. Many thanks Den

If pressing the solenoid does nothing then its an earth, I would start with the one between the battery and the body, as you get no warning lights or anything. If it were the one between the body and gearbox I would have expect the warning lights to have shown some life.

Do you have a multimeter that you can check resistance with ?.

I would also check out the other side of the main wiring as well, could well be a main power feed.

If you're pushing the Starter Solenoid under the bonnet then it doesn't matter what position the key is in, it should try and turn over. Unless the starter is dead of course.

Many thanks Den.

No earth strap on car. Took the starter motor off dead . Will change starter motor.put new earth strap on car and see how it goes

That's sounding likely the most likely cause, surprised the warning lights don't show some form of life when turning the key as there is usually enough of an earth for them, even if it is via the choke cable. Earthing the starter via the choke cable gets interesting though !!.

The starter probably needs a clean and the brushes freeing up.

Do the lights work ?.

No lights nothing at all.

Er...can we assume battery is good - and charged?

myoldjalopy wrote: ↑Wed Sep 19, 2018 12:08 pm Er...can we assume battery is good - and charged?

Yep... lets not forget Wheel Tappers Hammer syndrome...

I'd like to think that the OP had got a new battery or at least recharged the one that's been sitting for 16 years, but one must never assume anything when answering a question in a forum. It's often the bit that the OP doesn't mention that can be the problem.... I know a battery can be dead after 16 weeks, let alone years.

Indeed so!

It does also make me wonder if your battery is dead, you can do a basic test with a 12V bulb direct to the terminals of the battery. Also assuming your battery is good and starter is dud it could be possible someone has changed the solenoid thinking it was faulty and got the wires that supply the rest of the car on the starter side instead of the battery side of the solenoid.
The Headlights should work with ignition off and with no earth strap between engine and gearbox.
Regards John

I can't edit last post it should read:-
The Headlights should work with ignition off and with no earth strap between engine/gearbox and chassis.

yes put new battery on. No lights on dash and no head lights haven't had time to put new starter motor on yet or the earth strap

yes put new battery on. No lights on dash and no head lights.

In the engine bay was written on negative earth so that's what I'm doing. There was a radio in car. So would the car have to be negative earth. Someone has put a alternater on and taken the junction box away. So hope all the wiring is ok near were the junction box is there are two black wire that are not connected to anything

In the engine bay was written on negative earth so that's what I'm doing.

Going to check the solenoid tomorrow incase someone has put the wires on the wrong way!?

Yes keep it negative earth, if the battery is connected the wrong way round it will blow the rectifier diodes in the alternator.
The wiring is no longer standard so is difficult to know what is wrong.
Could you post some photos of the wiring please?
Regards John

If the sidelamps/headlamps dont work then there is a basic problem, either the earth between the battery and body - just because it is there and looks OK does not mean it actually is.

Or as already said the powerfeed to the car is not on the battery side of the solenoid.

I would not try the starter when you replace it until you have an earth between the engine/gearbox and body, otherwise it will use the choke and accelerator cables, and melt them.

All sorted. On the solenoid on the left hand side there was no small connection it must have shaped of. The wire was hanging down.. Changed the solenoid.. Connected the wire lights all round. Just need to put the starter motor on tomorrow. All the cars I've had over the last 20 years have pull starts not key so then the connection was shaped of never noticed. Many thanks. Just hope the engine starts tomorrow cheers Den