Starting issues

[GoM100Go]

Hello,
My Elan has developed a strange issue. At random maybe once a week, (daily driver) I will go to start it and I get nothing. I turn the key the dash lights come on the primer runs and I turn the key and nothing... No noise, no click, nothing. Kinda like trying to start the car without the clutch being pressed on other cars. I did some research and I read that what the starter is going out it clicks... I am not getting clicks at all. I just keep trying till it starts. The optima battery is new and volts read strong. Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks.

-James

[Faraday]

Hiya, not sure if it helps but I had that years ago on my Triumph Spitfire, a quick fix is to give the starter motor a few sharp taps with a hammer, used to work all of the time for me, if it solves it then at least you know that the starter needs to be repaired/replaced. Good luck

[superbad]

Hello,
My Elan has developed a strange issue. At random maybe once a week, (daily driver) I will go to start it and I get nothing. I turn the key the dash lights come on the primer runs and I turn the key and nothing... No noise, no click, nothing. Kinda like trying to start the car without the clutch being pressed on other cars. I did some research and I read that what the starter is going out it clicks... I am not getting clicks at all. I just keep trying till it starts. The optima battery is new and volts read strong. Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks.

-James

Sounds like the starter solenoid, clicking or not. Kind of a long shot, but also check that the battery cables are tight on the terminals with no corrosion. You might be getting poor contact, which would allow enough current to power the dash lights, but not enough to turn over the starter.

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Also check the grounds to the engine and chassis.

[GoM100Go]

Thanks guys I will check all suggestions.

James

[Brit-Car-Nut]

The Denso starter used by Isuzu has a know issue with the contacts in the solenoid getting burned and eventually failing - first intermittantly.

There are listings on eBay for a repair kit. In the UK the item number is 290846685081. In the US, I believe 230656514260 or 251219347012 might be correct.

Your local rebuilder can certainly get a repair kit for you. Replacement is not very difficult. Removing the starter is a lot harder.

I remember seeing a posting recently (less than a year ago) from a member that did his repair and described it. Take a look around.

Look here: viewtopic.php?f=37&t=17289&p=227303&hilit=starter+contacts#p227303