Allegro Club International

[Joshua hawes]

Hello all i have been having some trouble starting Andy tday, went to start it and i get just a click is it battery, alt or starter motor i have checked earths which are clean fuses appear to be okay the car will start jumped from another car just not on its own it makes a clicking noise (the engine doesn't turn over) any advice on.how to resolve this. . . .
Many thanks [/b]
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The new driving force from Austin,

[Richard Howe]

Check the lead from the battery to the solenoid, as it could be loose & reducing the potential flow; with the extra juice from a jump enough current might then be reaching the solenoid to turn over. It could also just be a solenoid suggesting it's on the way out, I seem to recall Tara's played this game briefly before dying entirely.
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...that's why Allegro will look as good 5 years from now as it does today.

[Laurence]

Check the battery volts using a voltmeter, on a charged battery you should see about 12.6Volts. If you haven't got voltmeter, switch the headlights on & look to see how bright they are, if they just glow, the battery is probably flat. If the lights are bright, switch on the heater fan & operate the brakes, if the headlights become really dim, or the volts drop considerably, the battery could be duff.

Check the battery electrolyte levels, when you look into each battery cell, you should be able to see the electrolyte, if you can't see any electrolyte, top up each cell as necassary using de-ionised (battery top-up) water until the electrolyte covers the plates inside the battery by about 10mm, then place the battery on charge. Or buy a new battery if required.

The electrolyte in the battery is acid, so don't splash it around, wear protective glasses, rubber gloves, overalls etc.

Could the battery be flat because the headlights were left switched on

[J Dawson]

Also worth checking is the starter may be jammed. If the warning lamps dim considerably when you turn the key try rocking the car back and forth in 4th gear to free the starter.
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Austin - you can DEPEND on it!

1976 Allegro 1100 4-dr saloon

Squeak, rattle & roll