Starting By Shorting Solenoid?

[Aygooshoo]

Guys,

I’m hoping you can help, yesterday my girlfriend’s Toyota
Aygo refused to start, she had to call Green Flag in the end who managed to
start the car and she could travel home. It seems the starter motor was the
problem and she was very quickly shown how to short the solenoid with a
screwdriver. I have a couple of questions:

1.

Does anyone know if there are any guides to
doing this? She remembers the instructions pretty much but a video or some
pictures would be useful.

2.
What are the dangers of doing this (personal,
not car wise), I’m thinking obviously make sure any lose clothing/scarves/hair
is out of the way and don’t hold any metal to complete the circuit sort of
thing? (Neither of us are especially ofay with car mechanics)

The car has an MOT in a week’s time, and it started just

fine this morning, so we’re only viewing this as an emergency measure that we’d
like to be able to do in rare circumstances, we’re hoping the garage that does
the MOT can give this a look at the same time.

Any advice/tips/suggestions most welcome.

Thanks!

[Conrod]

Hi, did the Aygo start on the key today or were you still shorting out the solenoid ?

[Aygooshoo]

It started just fine with the key today.

[Conrod]

It started just fine with the key today.

Tricky one...for trouble free motoring a new starter would be the right thing to do, or wait untill it happens again but then you don't want to leave your girl friend stranded, you might never forgive yourself !

As to shorting the Solenoid out, it's not good workshop practice as it causes sparks.

[Aygooshoo]

If she (or I) had to do it in an emergency, as per last night, until we could get it to a garage then what would be the most wise procedure/process to follow? - Thanks for the reply Conrod.

On a related note, the buttons on the key to lock the car seemed to only work from very short distances, after the Green Flag guy did the starter motor thing it seemed they worked from far distances like they used to, which I thought was just coincidence, but it does seem very coincidental!

[Conrod]

If she (or I) had to do it in an emergency, as per last night, until we could get it to a garage then what would be the most wise procedure/process to follow? - Thanks for the reply Conrod.

On a related note, the buttons on the key to lock the car seemed to only work from very short distances, after the Green Flag guy did the starter motor thing it seemed they worked from far distances like they used to, which I thought was just coincidence, but it does seem very coincidental!

Distance on the remote is a new one on me :) my wife gets the remote key I have the other one which is a key in the lock jobby :)

[Unklian]

Be very careful if wearing a ring.

Years ago, a friend used a spanner......the only thing to hand, to short the solenoid on his mini.

He put the spanner on the "live" terminal, holding it tightly in his hand.
the back of his wedding ring touched the car body work.
Ring became very hot, very quickly.
Burnt it onto his finger. He still has the perfect ring scar today.

[Conrod]

Be very careful if wearing a ring.

Years ago, a friend used a spanner......the only thing to hand, to short the solenoid on his mini.

He put the spanner on the "live" terminal, holding it tightly in his hand.

the back of his wedding ring touched the car body work.

Ring became very hot, very quickly.

Burnt it onto his finger. He still has the perfect ring scar today.

I have a story like that, guy showed me his wrist he had a copy of his steel watch strap all around his wrist ... He shorted it out on an alternator connection and couldn't get his hand back out, as the strap cooked his arm :(:(

After seeing that...no rings ...and no watches thank you very much :(

[mrrusty]

surely if shorting the solenoid starts the car then the stater motor is OK.

i would look at getting the solenoid repaced asap. sounds like its sticking. :)