Starter or Starter Solenoid? Whats it sound like to you?

[Kdubslugga]

I was in the middle of trying to figure out my header exhaust leak, and i think i finally figured it out, i went to start it up and, all there was, was a click sound. A few months ago i tried to start my car and the starter just stayed on, it wouldnt turn off, even with the key out of the ignition. I replaced the solenoid, and that worked, but im thinking now, that maybe it was the starter all along! There was smoke coming from the solenoid after a few more attempts to start it. Whats this sound like to you guys?

 

[HISSIN50]

if a solenoid is sticking and the key is off, check for 12 volts to the push-on wire on the solenoid. if so, look further upstream (ignition switch, etc). if the wire is dead with the key off, the solenoid is likely stuck. that is more likely, IMHO than the starter sticking/latching.
you want to do this real quick (with a friend helping - and have the starter wire ready to disconnect so you dont fry the starter. they are not supposed to be engaged for more than ~5-10 seconds before a cool down period.

and smoke is kind of a give away.

good luck.

 

[88stangmangt]

most of the time a starter will click when it is on it's way out.......have you tryed to smack it with a hammer or wrench???? when it acts up???? turn the key on hook a test light up to the hot wire and if it lights up when some one turns the key and no turning over.....the starter is toast......either way it is a piece of cake to replace.......get a stock standard starter you wont need anymore..

P.S. check out the fly wheels teeth also while you got it off...

 

[MahFiVeOh]

I just went through this about 2 months ago. I had the exact same problem with my starter relay sticking in the closed position. I went out and bought a new relay and it did the same thing.After alot of BS i find out that my battery was on its way out(was old) and it would only hold a low charge.This low voltage was causing the relay to stick, it was kind of welding itself closed. I got a new battery and its been fine since.

 

[cobra dave]

I went through the same thing on my old 92. The damn thing would keep turning over after ignition. I changed the solenoid in the engine bay then the starter switch in the steering column finally got pissed and changed the starter and had no problems after that. One thing though if it keeps turning over and wont shut down get it fixed yesterday, the last thing you want is to chew up your flywheel.

 

[Kdubslugga]

well my battery is only about 3 months old, and my starter relay is about 3 weeks old, so im just going to replace the starter. Its 1 problem right after another. But its worth it when its runnin right!

 

[Blandnuts]

I would also make sure the power wire from the battery to the solenoid is in good shape.

 

[Michael Yount]

I'd check out the unit that had smoke coming from it. These electrical bits run on smoke....a lot of people don't know it. They require smoke inside them to operate. The wires transmit the smoke around the system. The bigger the wire - the more smoke needed. The starter needs LOTS of smoke. If you let the smoke out - problems abound.

A relatively new battery is a guarantee of nothing. Try a jump with a known working battery from another vehicle. If it fires off - drive to Autozone and have them load test your battery. If it doesn't start, then jumper a hot wire to the solenoid trigger (car in park or neutral please). If that triggers your solenoid/starter - then it's ignition circuit. If it just causes clicking, you're down to fender switch, or starter/internal solenoid. To test the fender switch you have to know if you have a one wire old/big/heavy starter or a ministarter. If it's the old style starter, simply disconnect the wire to the starter, and touch it to the other switch terminal (which should be hot from the battery). If that turns the starter over - the problem is the fender switch. If it results in clicking, the problem is the starter. If you have a ministarter, then simply jumper across the fender switch terminals with an 8 or 10 gauge wire. If that starts the car, the problem is the fender switch. If it results in clicking, then the problem's likely the starter.

It is possible you've cooked some components - i.e. - let the smoke out. So it could be a combination of things. Perhaps a bad battery has caused you (in trouble shooting) to hurt the switch. Start with the battery test and proceed from there. Good luck with it.

 

[Kdubslugga]

Well i just replaced the solenoid, and still no go! So tomorrow im getting a new starter, so hopefully that will fix it. Im paranoid it wont, cause i dunno what else it could be

 

[HISSIN50]

Well i just replaced the solenoid, and still no go! So tomorrow im getting a new starter, so hopefully that will fix it. Im paranoid it wont, cause i dunno what else it could be

so what is it doing now? is the solenoid still latching or is the battery (or cables, etc) not allowing it to crank)?

 

[Kdubslugga]

I really have no idea, the solenoid is making a noise when i turn the key to start it. Theres just a click sound but nothing else happens. If a starter is shot what usually happens? Besides it not starting!!! How can i tell, the difference?

 

[MurdockSVT]

this sounds simply like a bad ground to the starter. follow the little black wire from the negative terminal down to the starter and see if its connected correctly and not frayed. Also check for a oil and other crap on the starter where this wire connects in.

 

[Michael Yount]

Did you try any of the trouble shooting suggested or are you just replacing parts? I tried to give you a step by step way of working through it where you could identify the problem without simply replacing everything. Did you start by checking out the battery?

 

[Kdubslugga]

Yeah the battery is fine, i even charged it up over night to be sure, but thats not the problem.

 

[HISSIN50]

i might suggest using a donor battery as if jump starting the car. this will all but eliminate the battery as a culprit. a bad battery can take all the charge you can give it and still not crank the motor over.

Edit: oops, just read Michael's first post. he hit all the good stuff already. Michael, sorry to duplicate.

 

[Michael Yount]

As mentioned before by me and JT, did you try jumping it from a battery in a car that will start? Charging a battery DOES NOT assure that the battery is ok.

Oops - I duplicated JT.

 

[Kdubslugga]

my next step is going to be to jump the battery. I tried to find any bad wires or connections, and found that the negative battery cable "where the 2 bolts tighten down the ground next to the neg battery post" they were loose. I tightend them down and nothing. So i'll jump it, see if that works!!

 

[Kdubslugga]

I just tried jumping the car, and still no go. So that eliminates the battery.

 

[HISSIN50]

i would check cables and connections then. if not, re-read what Michael posted about jumping the solenoid and try it.

good luck.

 

[Kdubslugga]

Michael, you obviously know what your talking about, and i on the other hand dont. So could you or someone tell me what and where the switch terminals are as well as the fender switch, im totally lost.