starter won't disengage

[alollich]

I went to start the car this morning and the starter would not disengage. When I turned the car off the starter remained engaged and kept cranking the engine over. I disconnected the battery as quickly as possible and then tried reconnecting it and the starter immediatley began to turn the motor over all of this still with the key off. Since the starter enages with the key off I think it is a relay or solenoid. What do you guys think? I am probably going to replace the starter anyway, but I did not want to do it yet. Thanks for the help!

 

[93MTXSHO]

Sounds like a stuck solenoid. I can't remember specifically, but I think the 91 has the separate solenoid and the larger starter, correct? Either way, you may just have to change the solenoid, but there's no guarantee that your starter hasn't been damaged already. If you have the separate solenoid, an old trick is to tap on them with the back end of a screwdriver. Sometimes this will make them disengage long enough for you to get a new one.

 

[alollich]

I am going to crawl under the car tonight, but if I remember right the solenoid is on the drivers side of the engine bay behind the airbox. I have a spare solenoid from my mustang that I know is good, do you think I could swap them just to see if it fixes the problem? I can't imagine there is that much of a difference in them.

 

[BamSHO]

I had the same thing happen to my green 92. I found that the ignition switch under the dash went bad causing the starter to run all the time. It is a $20.00 part. It is the no that hard to change. Well that is what went bad on mine. Hope this helps.

Brian Michael
92 MTX

 

[alollich]

Knock on wood, I think it is fixed. I changed the solenoid and the starter and don't seem to have any issues. I was lucky and found a remaunfactured starter relatively easily. I did not have to spend a week running all over town for the SHO specific part like usual. Thanks for the suggestions and advice.