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TR6 TR6 starter issues..

jimbar

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Hi All,
Well it's happened. My first "I've never seen that happen before" question. Last night I went to take my TR6 to the gas station and upon starting it I couldn't get the starter to shut off. Even turned off the key completely and still the starter ran on! Turning the key on and off a few times finely succeeded in getting the starter to shut off but left me afraid to use the starter again (so now I park on an incline and bump start it). Anyone care to comment on what the problem could be? Starter relay? Solenoid?
 
Had it to happen to my Chevy Suburban several times before it stoped. My bet is the solenoid is sticking. My Burb quit without any work.

When you turn the key to the start position the solenoid is ativated and a spring will return it when the key is turned to the run position. I bet your solenoid is sticking in the start position. When it sticks, you can wait for the vibrations from the starter motor to release the solenoid; take a battery cable off the batt (quick disconnects work well here) or hit the starter with a ball pin hammer to shake the solenoid contact loose.

I recommend a rebuilt starter. Or, if you are a real handy man, just replace the solenoid on your starter. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif
I bet water caused the malfunction.
 
I think I would start with the ignition switch, but I haven't ever heard of that happening before to anyone. Did have my horn start blowing spontaneously at 2 in the morning one time- purple wire in the steering column shorted to ground - but that's another story. Pete
 
The problem could stem from the solenoid and the drive shifting mechanism. The key activates the electromagnet (solenoid) that pulls in the plunger. The plunger does two things. It pulls the drive into the flywheel and it closes the contacts that supply battery voltage to the starter motor itself. If there is any binding in the plunger/drive mechanism, it could hold the drive in position and keep the starter motor running. Another possibility is that the contacts on the key switch are sticking shut. Since messing with the key seemed to stop the starter this might be the first place to look. You need to hook a voltmeter to the wire going to the solenoid from the key switch and see if voltage remains after you let the key return to the run position. Maybe you should remove the battery cable at the solenoid when you do this. If there's another wire attached there, hook them together with a bolt. Just be careful and don't let it touch anything, or wrap it in tape. If that isn't where the problem is, then you'll have to dig into the starter.
 
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