My `87 4x4 has a peculiar problem. When you turn the key through ignition and onto starter nothing happens. The ignition light comes on but the starter does`nt turn.
If you hold the key on the starter and wait then after 5 to 25 seconds the starter will turn and the engine will fire. The starter motor is pre-engaged and is 5 months old, I`ve cleaned the ignition to solenoid connector.

Any thoughts anyone.

Sounds like the ignition switch - the contacts are knackered.

Replace it, or fit a relay so as to drive the starter solenoid remotely, and put a push button on the dashboard - that'll do it!

Thanks for the reply Martin but I`ve already been down the button road (should have mentioned it I suppose). The problem is with the starter or solenoid somewhere.

Dave,

The best advice I can give you is get a Multi meter & with it set above 12VDC put one lead on the thin (solenoid) wire on the starter motor & earth the other meter lead then get someone to turn the key. If you have 12V on the meter then its not the switch. however if there is no volts then obviously it is the switch or the wiring. Good luck.

I had a similar problem with my 4x4 & it turned out to be the starter motor.

If the battery is good, the supply wiring is good, and the starter motor and its solenoid are good, you're left with a poor earth:
check the condition of the earth strap and its connections to the body and gearbox(?)

If it's not that, one of the "good" items isn't...

As mentioned above, measuring the voltage with a meter will reveal a lot.
Measure between things which shouldn't be different in addition to the obvious:
battery -ve to engine when trying to crank, for instance.

Cheers chaps.....there is definitely 12v getting to the solenoid. I think before I do anything else I`ll have to have the starter off and clean all connections. My daughter had the starter replaced by a local garage when I was on holiday so who knows what they did.

This is really wierd....I`ve cleaned each point of electrical contact between the starter and the battery in turn. Each time I reconnect it starts without hesitation. Yes I think to myself, its sorted then it immediately goes back to not starting until you make contact for about 30 seconds or more. I`m going to take the starter back and get them to change it before I lose control and torch the car.

Finally gave up and bought recon starter motor...problems gone away.