WARNING - these suggestions have potential for harm if you do not pay attention to details. Like leaving your car in gear when trying to start it, not being careful with a jumper cable, inadequate ventilation, causing your battery to explode if it gasses off and you create a spark near it, etc., etc. !!!

You can easily check your engine grounds by attaching a jumper cable from the battery ground post to a good ground on the engine.

One way to bypass a lot of stuff is to apply 12 volts directly to the starter.

You could use a remote starter switch, like the ones sold for turning your engine over when adjusting valves or doing a compression check. Connect it from the positive terminal of the battery to the solenoid. Press the button and the starter should kick in. If it does, you should go further back in the system. If not, try the next...

DANGEROUS test...

If you have a battery shut-off, shut it off and connect a jumper cable from the switched side of the shut off to the starter, eliniminating everything but the starter armature. Close the shut-off and the starter should turn.

During your other trouble shooting, don't just check for voltage, make sure that your connections are adequate allowing high current. Your problem could be as simple as a corroded cable or wire connection. Your bad connection could even be IN the battery!

When a mechanical system expands due to heat, any holes in the system (like a bad connection) expand also.

Check for voltage drops, in the primary starter circuit, all drops should be very small.

The Lucas fault manual, although not specifically for your car, has extensive testing directions in it. I bought my copy on ebay, and think that it was worth the price. If anyone knows about electrical things that don't work, Lucas does!



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'96 855R,'64 PV544 driver, '67 P1800 basket case, '95 855, '95 854, the first three are mine, heh, heh, 415,000 miles put on 9 bricks