Strange Starting Problem

[BTBET329]

Alright so I have a 1991 SHO, which I purchased a few months back. Since having it, it has run great but I am starting to have some strange happenings when starting it. It seems that I will turn the car over and it will start however the starter will stick and keep grinding away. The first time it did this I turned the key to the off position and it kept on cranking away, I then turned it back over and it turned over and then the started released and I was good to go. It has been doing this off and on now for the majority of the week. Well last night I went to start it and it pulled the same move. I turned the key to the off position, even took the key out and the starter is still churning away. I then turn the car over again and the starter is still going. I do the same step multiple times and the whole time the starter is just cranking away. I finally just say screw it and shift into first gear and start to pull away and the starter turns off.
So my question is do I need to look into a problem with the ignition or a problem with the starter? This is getting kind of annoying so any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance

 

[Ishodu]

Sounds like the starter solenoid is sticking. Pretty easy to fix and cheap to replace. You keep doing this you could bust your starter, flywheel, and electrical system.

 

[BTBET329]

So if I went out and bought a new starter, with the solenoid would that fix my problem. The starter is who knows how old so I would like to replace it anyway, especially if it would also solve my problem

 

[Mr Anonymous]

On the '91 the solenoid switch is separate from the starter and mounted on the driver's side inner fender. Shouldn't be more than about $10 or so at any of the auto parts chains.

 

[BTBET329]

Alright sounds good. However a new problem arose tonight. I went to start my car to go to a buddies house and it seemed rather hesitant to start, like the battery was low or something. When I went to turn it over it just was sluggish and all the lights on the dash got real low, however it fired up with no problem. When I went to leave my buddies I go to turn the car over and I get an attempted start however it didn't quite make it. I want to say that it is a battery issue however after a few attempted starts with no luck all the lights were bright as ever including my headlights which I turned on to make sure. Could this also be a starter issuse. We popped the clutch to get it started and it drove home as if nothing was wrong so I am still not sold on the battery issue.

 

[ffemtcurrence]

mines doing the same exact thing....it only does it if its cold outside and the car hasnt been run for 6 hours...its a pain in the ass but yea just get the solinoied (sp?) or a new starter

 

[BTBET329]

mines doing the same exact thing....it only does it if its cold outside and the car hasnt been run for 6 hours...its a pain in the ass but yea just get the solinoied (sp?) or a new starter

Yeah its been freezing here in Ohio and I kinda figured that might contribute to it all. I appreciate all the help guys I hope to get everything replaced this weekend

 

[SeanMc]

Happened to me. I have gen2 so I had to get a new starter .

 

[87hurricane]

Your solenoid also tranfers all of the power from the batt to the rest of the elec system. I would say all of your problems are related, and that the cause is your soleniod, although you may have damaged your starter if its been doing it for a while.

 

[AREA 91]

Do not buy a cheap one! You will regret it. I only use Motorcraft starters and solenoids.

 

[Ishodu]

Happened to me. I have gen2 so I had to get a new starter .

Not at all, 1 nut and 2 torx head screws and 14 dollars later you have a new one mounted on your starter.

 

[BTBET329]

Your solenoid also tranfers all of the power from the batt to the rest of the elec system. I would say all of your problems are related, and that the cause is your soleniod, although you may have damaged your starter if its been doing it for a while.

Today that car started and ran great the whole day. I have noticed however that when I start the car the electrical chime goes kinda crazy for a couple of seconds which makes sense since the solenoid controls much of the electrical system. I ordered that piece however I will have to wait for another pay check for the started, if this doesn't solve my problems.

 

[BTBET329]

So today after work I replaced the solenoid switch and once I was finished I started the car and it started the same way. However I after I took it out for a drive and came back to start it again it would not turn over. I would turn the key and the tach would jump to like 4 - 5 rpm and move with the crank of the engine. I then tried for a second time and the car turned twice then all the lights went out, overhead and dash. I then got out of the car shut my door, looked under my hood, got back in and the overhead lights came on. So I tried to crank it once more and all I got was a loud clicking noice from the vicinty of the new switch. Are all my troubles really a battery or am I missing something.

 

[Ishodu]

Sounds like your battery is done for as well, but your sticking starter could have been responsible for that too, if you spin a DC motor with mechanical force it becomes a DC generator with no voltage regulator. This energy goes right to the battery and electrical system. Take the battery out and get it tested.

 

[BTBET329]

Fair enough, and makes sense. At this point I think that I will just let the car sit and do all the work at once. I really hope that upon the completion of this my car will be back to normal, all I want is the thing to start and run for me as it did before

 

[87hurricane]

Are all your connections tight? Sounds like you might have a loose or corroded connection, or possibly a bad wire.

 

[LJRuddy]

Are all your connections tight? Sounds like you might have a loose or corroded connection, or possibly a bad wire.

Happened in my 94 MTX once... Sitting in rush hour traffic in a shopping district in KC when the car just completely died... lights and all. Nudged the battery cables and heard the fuel pump click on as well as several things under the hood. All was well again. :wave:

 

[BTBET329]

I plan on taking all the connections off from the solenoid switch and sanding them down. I also tried jump starting the battery only to have the jumper cables get extremely hot not to mention all the other wires leading to the switch. I plan on checking all my grounds when doing the work as well

 

[ES_8CH_OH]

It seems that I will turn the car over and it will start however the starter will stick and keep grinding away. The first time it did this I turned the key to the off position and it kept on cranking away. Well last night I went to start it and it pulled the same move. I turned the key to the off position, even took the key out and the starter is still churning away. I then turn the car over again and the starter is still going. I do the same step multiple times and the whole time the starter is just cranking away.
So my question is do I need to look into a problem with the ignition or a problem with the starter? This is getting kind of annoying so any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance

I have this same problem with my 91 ATX. It started on Saturday when I drove for a half hour, parked the car, then attempted to start it minutes later. The car starts, but the starter continues to crank even while the motor is running. I initially thought the bendix was stuck, but when I turn the motor off and pull the key out the starter keeps cranking so that can't be it. I have had this happen three times this week. Each time the car was driven, parked turned off, then started minutes later. This problem has only occurred when the motor is warm.

I have disconnected the ground wire from the negative terminal on the battery to get the starter to stop. The last time the starter stuck on, it turned off before I could get to the battery. After several attempts, the car will start correctly, without the starter continuing to crank.

What is the problem? Starter, solenoid, ignition switch?

-John

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Since there is no such thing as a 1991 ATX, I'll assume that you're speaking of the '94 ATX mentioned in your signature.

Just as above, your problem is a failure of the starter solenoid switch, which is integrated as part of the starter on '92+ SHO's. Best bet is to just replace the starter since the problem may have caused damage to the teeth of the starter drive, excessive wear on the brushes, etc.