Ted wrote;
[snip]
>Well, no more starter whir, because now the selenoid has gone bad (I think).
>Is this the part, wired between the battery and the starter, mounted just
>under the windscreen, in fromt of the fire wall, near the battery, that goes
>"clickity click" when it fails?? Can it be repaired, or does one just pull
>it (looks pretty easy) and replace.
[snip]
>Please help to catch it again.
Ted, the "thingy" that goes "clickity-click" is the starting relay. It
acts as a switch putting the battery current into the starter motor like a
switch. Sometimes it will clatter when the battery is weak and the voltage
is below that necessary to keep the contacts fully closed. (They have a
hefty spring to "break" the connection when you release the key from the
start position so the contacts do not become welded together by the high
current drawn by the starter.) When the battery is weak enough, the
current drawn by the start relay and the starting solenoid on the starter
motor may drop the voltage seen by the relay coil so the spring forces the
contacts open, which reduces the load and voltage drop so the contacts
close again which starts the cycle again. The repetition of this cycle at
a on-per-second rate or so causes the clatter. Check to make sure that
your battery contacts are clean (a source of high resistance), that all
contacts at the starter motor and starting relay are tight and clean
(another source of high resistance). And finally ensure that your battery
is in good condition... plenty of water (no dry plates). The relay is only
a $20.00 item, but don't replace it unless it has really failed.
regards, John Pratchios
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