Starter doesn't disengage

[Puscifer]

Hey guys, new problem. I researched a bit but nothing really hit the head on the nail. I was out crusing yesterday and noticed my car sounded like a windup toy, so, I pulled into the local gas station here and turned the car off, poped the hood.. got some cherry coke, came back out. Car wouldn't start. I did hear a loud buzz come from around the dash area, figured it could be the starter relay in the console, pulled it, checked it out and it looked fine. Put it back in and after 3-4 dead end clicks with the car (not a constant click like the battery is dead, just one *CLICK*) I decided - what the hell, may as well see if it isn't getting enough juice, went to jump start it and it popped off good and proper.

Installed new red top battery, went to get out of the parking lot and back at square one. Wouldn't turn over, just one *CLICK*. So, I went basic on the car and started to hold the clutch in and rock it to see if maybe the starter had seized up or might not've been lined up properly and turned the key as i rocked it one time and it fired right off. After turning it over several times I started testing multiple factors til I got to turn it on, then off.. Sadly, when i turned it off the last few times the starter was still trying to start the car with the key out of the ignition -=x. Anyone have any similar problems?

I took the upper casing off the relay, fully connected, looks good. New 950cca battery, new alternator 3 months ago, new head, new clutch / flywheel as of 1300 miles ago. dee da dee. Any thoughts at all would be awesome guys. I'll stay posted as I normally do!

 

[vernvision]

The flywheel that you replaced 1300 miles ago, is it stock or aftermarket? If it is an aftermarket then what brand is it? Also, if the flywheel was modded any way I would like to know.

When you replaced all the clutch parts did you make sure everything was aligned.

Also if you had a bad battery it might have overloaded the starter when it got stuck on the flywheel and damaged the solenoid. When you put that new battery in and it was still stuck on the flywheel it might have finished the poor thing off.

Did you ever check the old battery to confirm that it was bad or were you sure of that. Reason I am asking is that way I can rule out the flywheel contributing to the starter drive getting stuck on the fly wheel.

Finally, did you check your starter to see if it physically loosen up as well as the wires. If it was stuck on the flywheel and you were running the engine like that it was acting like a generator which also may have made stuff get hot inside. Anyway, you look at it I would pull the starter out and look at the drive teeth to see the wear. This is a pain in the butt I know but if you pull it out post a picture of it so we can take a look and go from there.

You can also check you ignition switch out in the steering column and rule out that. You can disconnect it under the dash and use a meter to check to make ure that the starting part isn't sticking.

 

[wret]

Bad starter.

 

[Puscifer]

The new flywheel is Fidanza, I'm very anal about everything i do and nearly borderline OCD. I'm positive everything was aligned properly etc. Voltage on the starter is reading as it should par shop manual. Old battery was actually good, i just got another one to rule it out. I just got back inside from checking out the ignition switch and volts on it, we're A-OK there to -=D. Ordered a Bosch Starter.. I'll replace and let you guys know what i seen when i can. Any other helpful information? Thanks so far you two.

 

[vernvision]

Ok you should be fine after you replace your starter but yes let us know what happens. I can think of nothing else until you swap out the starter.

 

[Mikael SS]

Bad starter.

.

if it doesn't start, hit the starter with a hammer or tire iron then try again. if it cranks over after that, you know its the starter

 

[Puscifer]

Well, I replaced the starter yesterday w/ a reman worldwide from the local parts store, i hate it.. so weak it barely pushes the car over. Pulled a bosch off there.

It seems my starter has been just not retracting the gear for quite sometime now. Meaning since i put the clutch system in about 1600 miles ago, . It's odd I never heard anything ill or have noticed anything that would seem the result in damage, but i'm pulling my transmission just to be safe. Car fly's through gears now though. I kinda like the slow drag before, no power loss but the gears would hold out nearly twice as long, haha.

Exact problem - Out of the three connections on the starter, the two nut'd connections were fine, they drive the starter motor. The other connection which is a slide on connector wasn't making good contact.. that one seems to drive the gear in and out and was stuck about midway out.

 

[vernvision]

You know that is real good info thanks for getting back. Those connections are reall important at keeping the starter happy and livinmg long as well as a good battery, Low voltage or a bad connection can cause those not to retract sometiems then you burn it up when it doesn't disengage. Knock on wood that has not happened to me yet but it did on an old Blazer I had. It ended up ruining my flywheel and I went through a few starters before I figured it out.

I hate when you work on these cars and you spend a lot of time making sure you do things right and then you get it back together sometimes with a few choice words. You go out and drive your call for a few weeks and as that time goes by double checking your work. Then something like what happened to happens. You think, I know I put that SH$% back together right and it turns out that you did but by coincidance the part associated with it failed and had nothing to do with the work you performed. I went through that with my clutch. 1 st cluctch goes out. I replace it making sure everything is to the specs and I triple check to make sure it is in correct. Get it all back in drive the car for like 1000 miles then all of a sudden I can't get it into gear. I think did I get that in right. Look under the dash and the MC is leaking all over the floor. Thinks great maybe that will fix it. It did for like 3 weeks the the pedal assembly failed. I thought to myself damn I almost freaking killed myself trying to get that thing in there now I got wrestle that. It never ends with these cars sometimes!

 

[Mikael SS]

Exact problem - Out of the three connections on the starter, the two nut'd connections were fine, they drive the starter motor. The other connection which is a slide on connector wasn't making good contact.. that one seems to drive the gear in and out and was stuck about midway out.

The small connection is the trip wire- basically it activates the big relay on the starter, allowing power to flow between those other two posts. the engagement of the starter is purely mechanical for the in/out.

If you hooked a small 12V+ wire to that small post the car will turn over, whether the key is on or not. Same thing if you took a big wire and bridged those two larger posts.