Good old starting problems

[JamesRattenbury]

Hi all, after quite a few years without many issues my +2S 130/4 has developed a confusing (to me) starting problem. A few weeks ago it would intermittently start, when it wouldn't start the key would turn but the engine wouldn't, no click heard, nothing. Checked battery was OK and traced (via help from this forum) to a bad earth from the solenoid by adding a earth from the solenoid to a rocker cover stud...however now the engine only turns over, but doesn't start.

I think it's the coil not getting 12v as a multimeter is showing 0 when I turn the key. I'm thinking I did something when I added the earth to the rocker cover I.e. assumed the black cable I think was the earth, isn't (Lotus manual wiring diagram states different colours going to the solenoid than I have). I've attached a photo of the solenoid and cables, does anyone have any ideas please?

[TonyA]

On my 3 fusebox S130, the live feed to the coil is very long winded: it starts from fuse #7 (counting from front) and piggy backs thru the hazard switch, oil pressure guage , thru the anti theft switch in the glovebox, then thru the rev counter !! A loose or lost connection anywhere along this ridiculously designed route will mean no start. Suggest therefore you srart by checking fuse #7 , then testing continuity between coil + and fuse #7... I f you have a dashboard fused S130, the feed from coil to fusebox might be different but same principles apply I think..Good luck..Tony

[JamesRattenbury]

Thanks Tony for the advice, I'll have a go at working through that little lot

[ncm]

May I ask what this is in the yellow circle? It may not have a bearing on your staring problem, but it appears to be supplying power to the Brown/White cable?

Brian.

[p.faurie]

The new black wire that you have fitted is going to earth,it shouldn’t I think the terminal is 12volt cranking voltage to bypass the ballast resistor,you should earth the solenoid through the solenoid mounting bolts.i my be wrong

[JamesRattenbury]

Hi Brian, yes the bit bolted on the side of the main feed from the battery to the solenoid in the yellow circle is odd, never seen it on any other Elan I've seen, but it's had it on it since I've owned the car so I've never touched. I've attached another photo which shows it's has two cables, a brown and white cable and a blueish green one coming out of it.

[JamesRattenbury]

Thanks P.faurie wondered if that was the case, will rewire today

[JamesRattenbury]

Unfortunately moving the new earth from the rocker cover to where the solenoid bolts hold it to the body has led back the car not turning over at all, no click from solenoid etc. So back to hunting down the issue elsewhere.

[TonyA]

The body is fibreglass so unlike a steel car you can't assume the solenoid mounting bolt is connected to earth..

[ncm]

To make the solenoid work you need to attach the earth cable to the metal body of the solenoid via one of the mounting screws, not the terminal that your pictures show it attached to.

Block attached to the battery cable looks like a P.O. addition, any idea where the 'blueish green' cable goes?

Brian.

[alan.barker]

+1, i had this problem years ago.
Made up an earth wire with ring at each end. One for a Cam Cover Stud and the other for a Screw holding the Solenoid to the Bulkhead to go through.
Alan