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Re: what else to try?? small starting electrical problem

To: "MG List" <mgs@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: what else to try?? small starting electrical problem
From: Max Heim <mvheim@studiolimage.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2000 10:40:37 -0700
I think you're on the right track. Also clean the battery posts and 
clamps. Then you might move on to the starter connections, if the problem 
doesn't go away.

I am actually experiencing the exact same symptom at this time. It seems 
to come up every year or 18 months. I just start cleaning connections 
until it goes away. It has never got to the point where it left me 
stranded, if that makes you feel better. It seems to always start 
eventually, maybe the 3rd or 4th time I turn the key, even without 
jiggling anything.

Bill Saidel had this to say:

>Man, am I glad I don't live in the South. 90 degree weather with 95-98% 
>humidity is not fun.
>
>Ok, here's an annoying problem and what I did with it. I'm looking for 
>other ideas to try.
>
>98% of the time, the car starts fine. No problem...runs fine...lots of fun.
>But that other 2%, the key goes into the ignition, nothing...nadda...zip.
>No sound.  No alternator light. No anything.
>So I think battery and wiggle the cables on the battery.
>    Starts right up.
>
>So I removed the ground wire, cleaned it, used my Dremel to clean the 
>chassis area where it
>connects, replaced bolts to remove old, rusty, original ones (is this a 
>modification?), tightened everything down, and
>of course it starts fine. Wed. the no-go happened again. (You 
>mathematicians might note the 2% failure rate is rising.)
>So I did the same with the cable to the plus end of the battery, and really 
>tightened that sucker.
>
>If I assume I took care of the problem, it'll happen this evening.
>
>Where else might I recondition connections (the starter motor??) and, ugh, 
>should I think the ignition???
>
>Gremlins like this I could do without.
>
>Bill
>'76B, newly insured with Hagerty! (a shameless plug because it saved me the 
>price of the junked engine I'm looking for)
>
>
>
>
>
>


--

Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the red one with the silver bootlid.


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