notlob,

Despite the good description you gave, it's very difficult to *visualise* the noise without actually hearing it.

As I'm sure you know, your M40 engine has a timing belt, not a chain, and I wonder if the noise you can hear is the belt slapping under certain speed/load conditions. Perhaps the belt tensioning isn't correct or it needs changing?

It is happening at around 2000 Rpm in any gear but it is always at very light pedal pressure. Often at speeds under or around 2000 rpm the engine seems to waver.

Thanks for your input on this problem

On click, or repeated clicking?

One click means the solenoid is engaging, but the motor is getting no power - could be brushes or dodgy contact in the solenoid.

Repeated clicking means that it's getting power, and trying to turn, but as it does so it pulls so much power there's a voltage drop which causes the solenoid to drop out again, whereupon the power recovers, and the solenoid engages again, ad inifitium. Cause of this is usually bad battery or poor connections.

In either case, clean / remake the battery connections, the starter connections, and the engine earth strap. Then give the starter motor a couple of thwacks with a block of wood. If still no go, then you'll have to get the starter out and take it to an autoelectrician.

Richard

I drove 300 miles to Essex yesterday in remarkably light traffic for the festive holiday (left home at 07.30 and arrived 13.15 after a couple of comfort stops)

ACC on at all times and really did come into its own when an eejit swerved from lane 1 to2 forcing an HGV to take evasive action - the ACC reacted much quicker - probably 0.1 seconds or so - than my move to the left hand pedal (autobox). Could have been a no-show for Christmas!! Certainly ensured the second comfort stop!...

Mark, If by personal, you mean my reference to....... "sincerely hope that you're not the only bystander standing over me (or one of your relatives) if my/their life's ebbing away"....... then, yes it's personal and if that's improper then I accept that and if you wish to snip it I'll know why.

If being "over the top" means I'm sorry/sad/annoyed to read Phil's initial comments and respond with an element of feeling then so be it and I'll 'stop' as requested and this will be my final note on the subject.

Phil has replied to my comments and I readily acknowledge the points he makes..........I'm pleased you did the course, Phil, and if you had mentioned this in your first post and had expanded as you did in your reply, then my response would have been very different.

My words "It's so easy" refer to the simplicity of rendering the basics i.e. the stemming of serious blood loss, the cooling of burns, the avoidance of further injury by getting someone to stop traffic coming round a bend and ploughing in to the casualty and even the application of CPR - after having done a course. The more advanced treatment is indeed specialist and not easy and I'm not suggesting otherwise. I'm just saying 'Basic' and that can be so effective and yet many die due to the lack of it.

If I've offended you, then I apologise, particularly in view of the additional info you give in your reply which enables me (and others) to see things differently from the initial reading of your first post.



KB.