[RESOLVED] Starter turning on it's own after head swap.

[Jeff_Ciesielski]

Ok, so i swapped out my head last night because nearly all of the valve stem seals were bad. I buttoned everything back together today, went to start the car, and before i had a chance to turn the key to 'start' the car started cranking over, I freaked out, removed the key, and it wouldn't stop cranking!! I ran around to the front, and disconnected the battery. I'm completely lost, and I'm stranded like an hour from home at a co-workers house. It does this with the clutch out as well. I've done quite a few DSM headgasket jobs, and I've never ran into an issue like this. My car is a 90 AWD, stock except for head and hardpipes.

 

[turboglenn]

sounds like there's power getting to the solenoid for the starter when there shouldn't be.. Check those wires first

 

[throwedgsx]

That happened to my buddy in his 96 talon. We did a motor swap and he ended up mixing up the power and ground.

 

[throwedgsx]

Otherwise check to see if there is a short across the 12v constant and the starter wire. I think the starter wire is black with a white stripe. Not 100% tho

 

[Locke]

Check for power across the switched leads on the starter's solenoid. If there is power, inspect the electrical leading away from the starter for a short to hot. If there is no power there, you have a stuck solenoid.

edit: PM me if you are still having problems. I may be able to come out and assist with the diagnostics.

 

[DSMboostin15]

It goes to show you that you shouldn't have moved to Seattle. Have you done anything more to the car since you've gotten there, because this seems like an odd thing to be happening when just changing a head gasket considering the fact that you only deal with the starter by disconnecting the cable from the battery. Like everyone else stated, it sounds like the starter solenoid is getting constant power. Refresh my memory, does the cable from the positive battery terminal go through a relay/fuse before going to the starter or does it run directly to the starter solenoid? Check for shorts in the system.

 

[Jeff_Ciesielski]

First off, thanks to whoever changed my thread title, much more informative than my crazy frantic typing . Secondly, problem solved. On my 90 ( not sure about other years) there are two plugs near the battery which are absolutely identical, and as a result are quite easy to switch. When that happens, any time the key turns to on, it activates your starter, even with the clutch out, and even once the key is removed. Lesson learned: LABEL YOUR WIRES!