My 101 won't start. Ignition key just gets a CLICK when turned.

It did this a couple times since Christmas so i bought a new starter motor. After having to change the clutch slave cylinder flexi hose on the Saturday, and then having the slave cylinder fail the next day, i got a new one and fitted it the following Saturday only for the starter motor decide that IT wants some attention and just gave me a CLICK!
Well after glaring at the pile of camo shed for a couple of weeks, mainly because it's parked half on the drive and half on the grass pushing the BM onto the grass(DON'T get me started on how IT feels with this slight) i finally decided to change it on Sunday. I'd been partly putting it off because i felt it was going to be an absolute BAAAAAAAAAAAAARSTARD to replace. I think it was the fact i couldn't get a ring spanner or even a thin walled socket onto the lower bolt plus the fact that both bolt heads had got a cross cut into the top of them...
Well, it didn't fail to displease!
It took me an hour to get it off and about 45 minutes to get the new one back on in it's place. The majority of which was trying to get the top bolt started in the 'ole!
I now ache in those places i'd forgotten could ache and imagine my joy when after clearing the tools away, climbing back into the cab, and turning the key to get a CLICK.
I put the battery on charge fully knowing it wasn't flat. The needle rose to 2amps for about ten minutes then dropped off the scale. So, other than a bad earth somewhere is there anywhere else i should look/smack with a hammer?
I couldn't do anything today as it was raining. When i get home from work tomorrow i'll put the battery back on and connect a jump lead between the earth post and the earth strap bolt on the starter and see if that gets me something other than a click.
When it did this before at Malvern, i got out to check the battery terminals were tight, they were, got back in and it started. It did the same a few weeks ago. CLICK followed by BRUM. Now it's just CLICK...

I haven't worked on a 101, but your symptoms do seem to point to a bad earth and/or the starter solenoid - that's the part that makes the click sound that you're hearing.

Do the lights/headlights work ok? what about as you try to start?
Have you done the usual jump lead from starter body to earth?
Measure the voltage at the starter motor as you turn the key.
Lots of places for a bad connection

Wolf Pack said:

I haven't worked on a 101, but your symptoms do seem to point to a bad earth and/or the starter solenoid - that's the part that makes the click sound that you're hearing.

Click to expand...

Is this a separate solenoid to the one that's part of the starter motor?

kermit_rr said:

Do the lights/headlights work ok? what about as you try to start?
Have you done the usual jump lead from starter body to earth?
Measure the voltage at the starter motor as you turn the key.
Lots of places for a bad connection

Click to expand...

Everything worked fine until the starter motor went click.
My arms aren't long enough to see the headlights when i turn the key.
I've just put the fully charged battery on and connected a jump lead between the battery earth post and the earth strap where it sits under the starter motor bolt and still get a click. I'll nip out now and see if i can measure the voltage at the starter motor when i turn the key...

edit

Right then, checking voltage on my own isn't going to happen any time soon. Not unless i suddenly develop GO GO Gadget arms! And maybe the neck too. I can't even see the terminals from in the cab!

Re. The lights, can you put something Infront of it so you can see? Eg a mirror? or even a cardboard box on a chair etc will reflect enough light to see if they go dim or not

This sound very much like the solenoid has failed, the coil is closing the contacts but they aren't making contact and passing enough current to spin the motor.

may help

miktdish said:

This sound very much like the solenoid has failed, the coil is closing the contacts but they aren't making contact and passing enough current to spin the motor.

Click to expand...

Could be

miktdish said:

This sound very much like the solenoid has failed, the coil is closing the contacts but they aren't making contact and passing enough current to spin the motor.

Click to expand...

I suppose anything is possible, but i would have thought in this case probably not because if you mean the solenoid on the starter motor, that would have had to fail on the old one and then on the brand new one i just fitted. If you are talking about a solenoid elsewhere, please tell me more

mystery said:

may help

Click to expand...

Thanks for that. Looks so much better in colour!

kermit_rr said:

Re. The lights, can you put something Infront of it so you can see? Eg a mirror? or even a cardboard box on a chair etc will reflect enough light to see if they go dim or not

Click to expand...

Got a better idea. I'll go out now and try it. It's dark
Headlights on, key turned and lights didn't dim.
Soooooooooooo, is that good or bad? Which bit do a smack with a hammer/replace? Or smack with a hammer and THEN replace...

It rules out the battery and probably rules out a bad earth.. solenoid might need a tap with LR special tool #1.. or it might just need a new one if contacts are burnt.. or taking apart and cleaning if that's possible

kermit_rr said:

It rules out the battery and probably rules out a bad earth.. solenoid might need a tap with LR special tool #1.. or it might just need a new one if contacts are burnt.. or taking apart and cleaning if that's possible

Click to expand...

It's a brand new starter motor, fitted to replace the old one that went click twice on two separate occasions. I tried thumping the old one with 'MY' special tool. A lump hammer. It had no effect. I see from the wiring diagram there is a relay between the ignition switch and starter. If that was playing up could that make it go down with a bad case of the clicks?

yfo866 said:

Is this a separate solenoid to the one that's part of the starter motor?

Click to expand...

Not usually.
It would be the one that is mounted on the starter motor casing.
Many moons ago, I had one where the main copper cable inside the solenoid had cracked, so I took it apart and splinted that heavy cable.

It really would be easier to send the starter for a rebuild IF you trace the fault to it.

Double check the earth strap from block/gearbox to battery. Grab your jump leads and connect one from battery to the block. Try to start it again to note any improvements. If its still clunking from the solenoid hold the switch to "start" for ten seconds then release. Check every connection on battery and starter for heat. If you've a bad connection it will get hot