Section : Electrical Equipment

Alternators, dynamos, lights, wipers, etc.

Starting problems with bonnet down

Posted By : Chris Thomas, 05-Feb-2006, 01:19pm

Hello, this is my first post and could use a bit of advice. Just bought a 72 Marki IV Spit. Replaced the dying battery with a new Halfords one and went to turn over, a loud click and the car went dead. No lights no electrics nothing. Opend the bonnet everything came back on and started fine. Closed bonnet and drove normally. Next time I tried to start up the same routine. I wrapped insulating tape round the braided wire negative lead to the terminal and thet seemed to do the trick untill a day later the same rigmarole. I only have to unclip the bonnet on the same side as the battery and she starts fine. Any advice would much appreciated thanks. Chris

Followups :

Starting problems with bonnet down

Posted By : Doug Paterson, 05-Feb-2006, 03:52pm

This has to be something obvious - are there any cables which when the bonnet is down might move slightly?

Wrapping the earth cable shouldn't be required but as this seemed to have an effect for a while I'd suggest you check the condition of the earth straps and the tightness of the connections - both where it is connected to the body and to the engine.
- Starting problems with bonnet down
  
  Posted By : Dave Daniel, 05-Feb-2006, 05:57pm
  
  I had a similar-ish problem with a halfords battery where the battery clamp bracket shorted out the +ve terminal so I'd check the bonnet is not shorting any of the cables atached to the +ve side of the battery or the starter solonoid.
  
  Cheers
  
  Dave
  - Starting problems with bonnet down
    
    Posted By : Colin Lindsay, 05-Feb-2006, 07:25pm
    
    Battery clamp shorting wouldn't just show with turning the key; you'd just get sparks and a very hot clamp where it's shorting... check the battery straps where they leave the battery and especially just above the starter, they might be shorting out against the inner wheelarch; in fact try to lie under the car shining an inspection lamp upwards while someone gently closes the bonnet - you'll see how close the cables come to the underside of the bonnet and spot any potential shorts that way... don't forget to suspect the bonnet stay too where it passes very close to the bulkhead.
    Colin
    P.s if this doesn't cure it try turning the bonnet round as in the photo - makes the car so much easier to work on...
    
    Starting problems with bonnet down
    - Starting problems with bonnet down
      
      Posted By : Chris Thomas, 06-Feb-2006, 00:39am
      
      Thanks for all the advice will give them a try when I'm off work tomorrow. The bonnet strap seems like a likely culprit.
      Cheers. Chris.
      
      PS that idea with the reverse bonnet opening would be helpful to allow 4x4's to see a Spits headlights.
      - Starting problems with bonnet down
        
        Posted By : Chris Thomas, 08-Feb-2006, 09:12am
        
        Once again thanks for the responses it seems the battery clamp thread was connecting to the cross brace on the bonnet I isolated them and everything has been fine since. No doubt will be back with more questions later.
        Much thanks Chris