Blasted thing won't start...

[SG1 Bones]

G'day all,

I know it's a bit of rookie question but, I can't get my SIII 109 started I think it's got the 202 in it, I'm still trying to find them numbers.

I did give it a quick degrease and wash in the footwells and chassis to clean it up a bit and I've been playing with the dash to fix that up, but before all that it was running next to perfect. I've got a fully charged battery, tried jump starting as well to make sure it wasn't the battery.

The ignition just has a single click when I try to turn it over and that's it. I just would like some ideas where I should tackle first so I'm not pulling a working part to bits only to find it wasn't the problem.

All your assistance is very gratefully appreciated.

Thanks
Nathan.

[gromit]

Sounds like the starter has possibly stuck, the click being the starter relay.
Put the lights on and try turning it over, if the lights dim then the starter has possibly jammed.
If the lights don't dim then check the connections to the solenoid & starter plus the earth to the engine.

If the starter is jammed it might need removing to investigate although a thump on the starter body sometimes fixes things temporarily.


Colin

[Blknight.aus]

if its not winding over then its the start relay or the starter motor.

check for voltage on te back of the start relay and on the startermotor while someone keys it over.

[Homestar]

Just to clarify - it only cranks for a second then stops cranking or it is cranking ok but not firing? If it is the latter have you checked for a spark? Take an HT lead off a spark plug, stick a screwdriver in the end of it, place it so the driver is close - but not touching the block or any earthed surface then crank the engine to see if you get a spark.

If it's the former then the starter solenoid or the crank circuit could have an issue. Take a wire and connect it straight to the starter solenoid terminal then touch it on the positive of the battery to see if it cranks. If it does, then there's an issue somewhere before the starter, if it doesn't then there's an issue with the starter - either the solenoid or the actual motor.

[harry]

hi nathan,
it sounds like you may have wet something or done something when playing with the wiring..
if it just goes click when you turn the key, it usually would be a flat battery, but it may be lots of other things,
check the starter relay to see if the terminals are secure, battery for tight connections.
perhaps to find if the problem is between the key and the starter, use the positive jumper lead.
put your positive jumper lead from your battery directly on to the starter terminal and then connect the other end to your battery positive.
if the starter cranks the engine you will need to disconnect at the battery quickly, but if the ign is on the engine should start, or try to.


at least if it try's to go, you can then chase the problem between the starter and the key.
and what they said also.

[crackers]

And one old time remedy that hasn't been touched on.
Some older starters had a square end to the main shaft sticking out the back of them. Simply putting a spanner on that and giving it a turn may either free it up or tell you it wasn't stuck in the first place. Doesn't work if you don't have the square end of course.
Giving it a whack with a heavy spanner works (remember Clive Palmer under the bonnet of his Rolls when he took it to Parliament for the first time? Stuck starter and he was using a length of wood and a hammer to jolt it free).

Failing that, you're chasing the lost smoke I'm afraid ('lectricy is smoke, don't let the physicists fool you).

[SG1 Bones]

Thanks everyone for those pointers I shall investigate the starter first I think and go from there if I find the problem I'll let you know.

Once again thanks.
Nathan.

[LandyAndy]

Brushes in the starter motor could be cactus.Try rocking it in gear with the ignition off to line the brushes up with a better bit of the armature on the starter motor,then try starting as normal.
GOODLUCK
Andrew

[mick88]

G'day all,

I know it's a bit of rookie question but, I can't get my SIII 109 started I think it's got the 202 in it, I'm still trying to find them numbers.

I did give it a quick degrease and wash in the footwells and chassis to clean it up a bit and I've been playing with the dash to fix that up, but before all that it was running next to perfect. I've got a fully charged battery, tried jump starting as well to make sure it wasn't the battery.

The ignition just has a single click when I try to turn it over and that's it. I just would like some ideas where I should tackle first so I'm not pulling a working part to bits only to find it wasn't the problem.

All your assistance is very gratefully appreciated.

Thanks
Nathan.

Hi Nathan,
hope you got the old girl running!
As for identifying your engine, it should have either "202" (early red motor) or "3.3" (later blue motor) cast into the front left side of the block down behind the alternator.
Otherwise put your engine number up on here and I will follow it up for you. The engine number is stamped into the front right hand side of the block, on a flat machined area,
just around the corner from the water pump.
Hope this helps.
Good luck and cheers for now.
Mick.

[SG1 Bones]

Thanks mick88, I finally found those numbers. It is definitely a 202 and I found the engine number ZL11098. I googled some information on it and am I right in thinking that the 202 was from an HZ Holden? If that's the case I'd like to know what happened to the car because my SIII is a 1977 model which is when the HZ first came out and they ceased in 1980, so the engine would have been still quite green when it was dumped into my SIII.

By the way I tried hitting the starter motor but it still didn't kick over, but on the first try of turning it over the click was followed by a sound that sounded like a spring relaxing (if that makes sense). 😡

Would clutch starting work? I am thinking along those lines because of one of the ideas mentioned above. My only concern is that with living on a hill is that if I don't get it started I'll have to try to drag it back up again.

I've been thinking about what would have been the original engine wether a 4cyl or a 6cyl. What would be the main things to see to confirm its original heart?

Thank you all so much for your assistance.
Nathan.

P.S. Sorry for the long post.