HELP! Starting Problems with Blue 253

[wbute]

The reason a starter motor won't crank over fast enough is cause it's rooted. Makes no difference how much power it's drawing.
The only time my 253 has let me down is when the coil died. The only good coil is the genuine Bosch one.
If the engine has a mechanical problem like low compression, burnt valve or worn cam shaft it will be hard to start.

[Vombil]

The reason a starter motor won't crank over fast enough is cause it's rooted. Makes no difference how much power it's drawing.
The only time my 253 has let me down is when the coil died. The only good coil is the genuine Bosch one.
If the engine has a mechanical problem like low compression, burnt valve or worn cam shaft it will be hard to start.

hahah the oil pressure dial is only a few mm off red!

BUT... doesn't blow smoke or have oily plugs. when its running it seems to be fine, pulls away well, idles nice etc

not that i know much about the ignition switch etc but I dont understand why this would be the cause. the motor always cranks but firing up is the problem

[Taily]

hahah the oil pressure dial is only a few mm off red!

BUT... doesn't blow smoke or have oily plugs. when its running it seems to be fine, pulls away well, idles nice etc

not that i know much about the ignition switch etc but I dont understand why this would be the cause. the motor always cranks but firing up is the problem

Out of interest have you tried a hot wire (12v) from the positive terminal of the battery to the positive side of the coil? That will bypass the ignition switch, but be aware you'll need to use an aligator clip or similar at the battery end as you'll need to remove battery power from the wire to stop the engine after turning the key off. Be a bit careful doing this, but is a good way of checking for a faulty ignition switch if it fires up every time while connected up like this.

[Vombil]

Out of interest have you tried a hot wire (12v) from the positive terminal of the battery to the positive side of the coil? That will bypass the ignition switch, but be aware you'll need to use an aligator clip or similar at the battery end as you'll need to remove battery power from the wire to stop the engine after turning the key off. Be a bit careful doing this, but is a good way of checking for a faulty ignition switch if it fires up every time while connected up like this.

thanks heaps Taily. Ill give that a go tomorrow. is it dangerous ie need back up? I am a bit of a lone wolf but if its a two man job i could arrange that. dont want an eleccy fire or to fry coil or something else.

[Taily]

Not dangerous, just need your wits about you not to short the 12v supply lead onto any thing - the one you're fabricating and using to supply 12v to the coil for the test. Hence the suggestion to use alligator clips on either the battery or even both ends.

While you test, you'll still need to use the key to engage the starter (does it sound slow?) but the way to shut the engine off is to either remove 12v from the coil or stall it down if it is a manual because it will keep running with the key off otherwise.

Now you all know how thieves used to bypass your kill switches, unless you got a bit serious with their design.

[Vombil]

Hard to say if starter is slow coz im using shit batteries. I tried a perfect starter motor (super fast) and it made no difference.

could i just hook a jumper lead up from battery to coil? big alligator clips!

i'll stall it down. still turn key off or does it not matter?

[HJRAY]

When u say it wont start on the key sometimes are you saying it wont turn over? Or it turnes over but wont start? If it turns over but wont fire you need to stick a spark plug on the end of a lead then crank it over then u will see if its sparking, if its not sparking then you need to trace the fault, eg points etc . One common problem is the car will start when cold then u drive it to the shops or some where then you jump back in it after five min and it wont start! After it cools down it starts staight away, this is commonly a coil fault , the windings are broken,
Try the spark plug trick first and make sure u ground the plug, (just place it on a metal surface making sure the electrod isnt touching any surface.

[Vombil]

When u say it wont start on the key sometimes are you saying it wont turn over? Or it turnes over but wont start? If it turns over but wont fire you need to stick a spark plug on the end of a lead then crank it over then u will see if its sparking, if its not sparking then you need to trace the fault, eg points etc . One common problem is the car will start when cold then u drive it to the shops or some where then you jump back in it after five min and it wont start! After it cools down it starts staight away, this is commonly a coil fault , the windings are broken,
Try the spark plug trick first and make sure u ground the plug, (just place it on a metal surface making sure the electrod isnt touching any surface.

yeah always cranks. always. just wont fire. Ill try for spark today too and report back

thanks everyone!

[HK1837]

Still sounds like the ignition switch to me.

[thatotherguy]

change the coil,