starting problem (blowing the starter fuse)

hi all.

Last week my wifes car started blowing the starter fuse near enough everytime i tried to start it. after putting a higher amp in this happened less often but as she does multiple short trips everyday this was a right pain in the rear.
While at work a friend of my wife came round and wired a switch from the starter to the positive terminal on the battery. this worked but was bypassing the fuse altogether. ( yes I know, stupid thing to do but it was the weekend, couldnt get the part and the car was desperately needed for monday and tuesday). Got the starter on wednesday and replaced it during my lunch break but nothing happened. checked all connections and tried again but nothing. been at work all week so today i have taken it out and bench tested both the old and new motors and they both work out of the car using another car battery and jump leads.

to cut a even longer story short, right now the only way i can get that car to start is by connecting a jump lead from the negative to motor end of the starter itself.
Ive always been more mechanically minded and not electrical so im unsure of the cause but im thinking a bad earth? can someone confirm this?

All fuses are fine and i have checked all the earth cables i can find with just the air box out but before i start taking more bits off to check anything else tomorrow i would like to know what you think. am i missing something?

without the lead attached to the battery and motor case i get a click sometimes and other times nothing then after a while the car puts itself into eco mode.

Please advise as i kinda need the car for monday.

thanks in advance for any replies.

Mike.

If your having to connect a jumper cable from your negative to your live to start the car you could have a faulty negative cable which seems about right, if you have multimeter I would be good to check both ends of the negative cable, hope that helps

turns out the idiot that claims the motor was new had cleaned it up and sprayed the parts to make it look new so the earth feed had no connection between the 2 bolts along side and the flat cover they rest against because the paint was in the way. remove the paint and it was all fixed.

mikec3 wrote:turns out the idiot that claims the motor was new had cleaned it up and sprayed the parts to make it look new so the earth feed had no connection between the 2 bolts along side and the flat cover they rest against because the paint was in the way. remove the paint and it was all fixed.

Great news.

mikec3 wrote: car started bowling the starter fuse near enough everytime i tried to start it.

Which fuse is the starter fuse? (the one that kept blowing)?

Thanks