low brake fluid stopping car from starting!

D

dkranz

New Member
HI,
Don't know if anyone else has experianced this..

The brake / clutch fluid resivor on my P6 has always been a bit dodgy. After a super-market run I topped up the fluid in on the resevior, and thought nothing of it. When I came to start the car the next day, nothing. No crank, the electrics came on but the starter motor was not even trying.

I called out the recovery people, and they said it could be the starter motor - this seemed the likley culprit, as they were able to jumpstart the car OK..

One new starter motor later and it's still not playing ball - but I noticed the connector's on the clutch / brake fluid resevoir had come detached and were touching the bodywork of the car. Just a small crimp back and I tried again, and the beast roared back into life.

I thought the indicator was just a light bulb on the dash display - would this normally stop the car from engaging the starter motor?
 
As you said, a jump start put you back in action. Those wires were just running your battery down below starting capacity.
I guess we have all have bought unnecessary starters or alternators at one time or another. Now I always suspect the battery first.
Dick West
 
HI,

Thanks for the reply.

>>wires were just running your battery down below starting capacity.

I'm not sure if this was the case - the starter motor was not turning over, or even clicking. The call-out mechanic mesured the voltage at the starter motor and he said it was OK..

Still a bit bemused!
 
I don't know about stopping the starter motor, what it sounds like is there is not enough current to disengage the starter motor solenoid. I was told that it could be 'sticky' and a judicous whack with something heavy on the solenoid would help it on its way.

I took the same route as you and purchased a new starter motor.

Only for the garage to find that ignition electrics had a dirty circuit. My advice is to check 'the hole'. Run the power to the motor back and it should run to a hole in the bulkhead. This may need to be cleaned up.

Bit of emery cloth around the contacts should do it.

I don't think it's related to the brake circuit coming on.
 
There was an article in the p6 news about this time last year by Tom Wilson RO for west of scotland.

He had a similar experience with starting. The earth wire on the reservoir is in the ignition circuit, which you will see if you check the diagrams. His broke wouldn't start, but he checked every possibility first before renewing a part.

Always worth reading those circuit diagrams.

Colin
 
I had exactly the same problem with mine.

Car just stopped dead one day and wouldn't go again. I tried everything and eventually towed it to an auto electrician who charged £30 to say he couldn't fix it.

Messed and mawled with the thing for days - suddenly it sprang into life again!!

That HAD to be it.

Johnny. ???
 
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