Club Triumph

Ok long storey short car hasn’t been started in years loom has been put etc thought I had connected everything back up correctly I can get Car to turn over and run but have to use button under the bonnet and hold the button under the bonnet to keep it running soon as I let go of the button it dies, turning the key does nothing and help would be greatly appreciated have checked wiring all appears ok

If the key won't start it, and you have to start it by the button on the solenoid and keep that pressed in, then the starting circuit is working ok; it's the key / ignition circuit that's faulty and it's not triggering the solenoid as it should. Are you sure the solenoid is wired correctly? Do all your other circuits work ie lights, warning lights (particularly the red ignition light)? Work your way along the circuit checking that you're connected to the correct terminals on the ignition switch and the solenoid. It's probably just one connection to the wrong terminal.

That sounds like two separate problems, to me.

The starter solenoid not engaging suggests the control wire (white/red if I remember right) isn't connected correctly at one or other end.

The need to hold the solenoid in to keep the engine running... is a classic symptom of a failed ballast resistor... except that you've posted in the Herald section and they were never fitted with ballast ignition. It's also not normal for a solenoid to have both the button and the ballast bypass terminal, which unfortunately means there's no obvious route for the button to provide volts to the coil. Except...

One possible "stupid but simple" error that could give these symptoms (although it would also mean that nothing else worked) would be if the main battery feeds (big brown wires) were on the wrong heavy terminal on the solenoid - i.e. the starter motor side instead of the battery. That's probably what Colin was hinting at.

Ok I will give this a try tomorrow night and post the results as said it is probably just one wire but it’s so frustrating and the wiring diagrams I have are not overly detailed

Thanks for your help yes I had been a complete idiot and connected the positive battery supply and the starter motor supply the wrong way round, which having looked at it again tonight with fresh eyes it was easy to see. Thanks again.