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MG MGB Technical - Strange electrical problem

Hello all, I have developed a problem on my 79 BGT which I'm hoping someone can help me with! Now my knowledge and experience is limited but I have learnt an awful lot since owning this car!
A few days ago I went to start the car and when turning the key the starter (recently reconditioned) just clicked rapidly almost as if it was spinning but not engaging, I rocked the car tried again and it turned and fired it did it again a couple of further times, I unscrewed the wires off the front of the starter gave them a clean and reattached, this seemed to solve the problem until today where it worked fine all day until I stopped to pick something up from a friend got back in the car turned the key and there was quite a loud click and then nothing no power at all, with one turn of the key the radio came on but turning the key all the way everything cut out, we tried to push and give it a bump start this didn't work as I was scratching my head I turnrd the key and the engine started, when I got home I tried again, nothing when I first turned the key the fuel pump clicked the ignition light came on but further turning cut everything out again also if you turn the key once the radio comes on but if you turn on the lights it all cuts out again, now when I turn the key there is no fuel pump clicking or ignition light just the radio.
Sorry for the length of this message but any ideas on where to start!!!???
Thanks again I have gotten some very useful information from this site on some of the other problems I've had in the past,
cheers,
Graham
G Morriss

Sounds like a bad connection on the battery or cables.. Clean and reinstall all the cables and It should be fine. Be certain to include the ground cable from engine to frame.
Sandy
ss sanders

Thanks Sandy, that seems to have done the trick I noticed on removing the neg battery clamp it was very loose, but cleaned and tightened and so far so good!,
Graham
G Morriss

Indeed, a chattering starter is a symptom of either a flat battery or a bad starter cable connection. Also on V8s when the solenoid is giving up through getting too hot from proximity to the exhaust.
PaulH Solihull

This thread was discussed between 13/01/2011 and 14/01/2011

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