X1/9 no go.

[nigel bickle]

Whack the starter hard with a hammer, once.

 

It's sticking, and that may dislodge it

[richardmorris]

Starter isn't sticking I'm certain (ish). The solenoid isn't engaging in the first place. I had a sticking starter in the 2cv and used a maglight to whack it. Also when you turn the key with headlamps on they don't dim at all.

 

Also, by laying across the side of the wheelarch with a torch in one hand and moving pipes and leads with the other you can just about see the starter. Never mind room to swing a hammer!

[Barry Cade]

36 inch breaker bar is the tool of choice in this instance.

[richardmorris]

I was going to have another play this afternoon, but it's just been pouring down here in Wales ( and Chester too!). It's annoying me and I'm about to admit defeat anyway.

[richardmorris]

Just stopped raining enough to venture out to the garage. Eventually found the gearbox earth webbing strap. Still connected both ends and flexible in the middle.

 

Fuse box is like new, wiring all like new with no signs of corrosion to terminals- all earth terminals around engine bay were cleaned and waxoyled years ago when the car was last done.

 

All lights, electric Windows and aerial work perfectly, headlamps pop up and down, it just won't bloody fire the starter. I give up for now. My dad will call the local Italian car specialist when they're back from babysitting at my sister's at the weekend.

[richardmorris]

well the autoelectrician has just been and says it's the starter motor.

[egg]

I've just 'liked' that post, and then thought, how easy to find/expensive is a starter motor? 

 

BTW Richard - any pics of the car on here anywhere? As an ex-xxy owner, always good to see one! 

[billyboy406v6]

Just pop a new starter on and away you go ? Pictures are a must to keep this thread interesting !

[Rocket88]

I don't think the words "just pop in" applies in this case....................

[vulgalour]

"Step 1 - remove car from starter"

[Barry Cade]

25 mins at the side of the road, last brand new starter I bought was 45 quid, off the shelf. It's a 128/Strada/Uno engine!

[richardmorris]

I'll put some better ones up from home, but here it as at Goodwood last year for Soft Top Sunday. Next to a Lambo Silhouette!

 

[richardmorris]

25 mins at the side of the road, last brand new starter I bought was 45 quid, off the shelf. It's a 128/Strada/Uno engine!

 

 

I'm impressed at that - it took me longer to take the leads off!

 

Richard

[richardmorris]

and at Auto Italia Brooklands last year.

 

[wuvvum]

25 mins at the side of the road, last brand new starter I bought was 45 quid, off the shelf. It's a 128/Strada/Uno engine!

Well volunteered mate.

[richardmorris]

Well volunteered mate.

 Unfortunately it's a long way off his patch being in N Wales. Local Italian place has been contacted.

[richardmorris]

More pics, since you asked.

[egg]

Nice Gran Finale...

 

My dream X1/9 would be a 1300 Lido (on really skinny tyres as advised by LJK Setright), but a nice Gran Finale would be cool as well!

[richardmorris]

Strictly speaking, it's not a GF. It's a special edition on the registration (se). It's January 1989, and GFs weren't badged as such until March.

[egg]

Ok, didn't know that. Thanks for also not drawing attention to my incorrect spelling of Gran! [now edited]

[richardmorris]

The dealers were just sent a GF "kit" consisting of a few plastic badges with glue and a couple of stickers to put on the front wing. The spoilers were already dealer fit and these carried on. Many GFs didn't have spoilers fitted at all, some were put on back to front ( mine was! But I corrected it ).

Originally it was in good company with a TIPO! The TIPO replaced an SD1 vanden plas which was my godfather's company car when he retired.

[egg]

Here was mine. No longer with us, unfortunately. Sticking front caliper, and a trip to a specialist in Brighton revealed it was full of filler....I flogged it on.

[richardmorris]

It's a great fun, and surprisingly practical thing. For my 40th birthday I drove it to Alsace for a holiday.

[richardmorris]

Most of the places there I could have bump started it rolling down a hill!

 

It's a shame that there aren't more around really- contemporary road tests had them rated a lot better than the MGBs and tr7s.

[Barry Cade]

 Unfortunately it's a long way off his patch being in N Wales. Local Italian place has been contacted.

I've passed by North Wales 4 times in the past fortnight in a van full of tools, stopping often for biscuits...

 

Take the N/S/R wheel off and go in from the side with a long 3/8 extension...

 

Fast Fact. Volvo 780 Coupe's were built on the same production line, and the colours of the Grand Finale- Mica red and Mica blue are identical to the Volvo paint. Late X1/9 paint is listed under Bertone, but many paint suppliers don't have the mix. It's listed as a standard 88-89 Volvo colour..

[richardmorris]

I've passed by North Wales 4 times in the past fortnight in a van full of tools, stopping often for biscuits...

You need bara brith and Welsh tea cakes!

 

Local Italian place has just ordered a motor and will ring when it's in.

 

http://www.italianspecialist.com

[richardmorris]

All of this very helpful advice is hampered by the fact that the car is in Wrexham ( under the care of my 70yr old parents ) and I am in Surrey. I like tinkering and would happily spend a week changing the motor, but it's not that easy for me to do it at the moment.

 

I did know about the bertone Volvo coupe colours- the codes are something like 488 and 489.

In fact I'd love one to go with the X1/9 but haven't seen a good one for sale for ages.

[richardmorris]

All systems now go.

 

Starter removed and working ok, but solenoid contacts had corroded and dissolved in some cases. New solenoid fitted and everything replaced in 45minutes.