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iTrader: (1)

Hi guys,

my starter won't disengage after the engine has fired and is running.
From all the regular issues with starters, where there's a click or slow/no turn over, I have to get the problem I've never heard of anywhere!

The car has last been moved on a very hot day, last Saturday, and has sat until today.
I have had no previous starter issues.

So I got out my service manual and checked the diagrams.
1) I found a 3 Amp circuit breaker in the diagrams, but pulling it does not prevent me from starting the engine. The breaker is intact, btw.
2) Pulling the enable starter relay AFTER starting the engine does not disengage the starter. Pulling it BEFORE starting DOES prevent me from starting, like it should.
3) There seems to be a spring inside the starter solenoid which moves some part and pushes out the actual component which meets the flexplate. Do these things tend to break due to old age?

Scorpner

iTrader: (4)

Not unfamiliar at all. It can happen if a starter isn't shimmed enough and/or properly. It's been a while since I've had a standard starter out of a car but you should be able to test it where the gear pops out and back in again. If you do that test and it doesn’t retract, then I would look into taking it apart.

Here is a vid that shows how to test the solenoid two different ways: Oh, I would NOT handle live leads like he is. Keep your hands away from the metal of the jumpers and only use one hand with a screwdriver or something to isolate yourself from it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...KWJsmjAMA#t=61

I H8 WWD

iTrader: (5)

Mine whines a little after I start the car. Sometimes more than other times.

Imagine these are two sound waves, top wave is the starting of the car and rumble of the exhaust. The second is the starter itself.

Weeooweeooweeoo-blublublublub
Weeooweeooweeoo-woooooooooooo

Lol. I've been looking to replace it with a mini starter anyway.

P.S. Great video post.

NCC-2569

iTrader: (1)

Thanks, Scorpner!
That's a great video you found there.

I guess the shims aren't the problem, because the starter is original and has never been removed before.

I would NEVER use an uninsulated wrench or screwdriver when handling a device that is able to draw such an amount of current. That guy's insane
Good idea with the jumper cables, though. Hadn't thought of using them to get the power to the removed starter.
I'll be able to remove that thing next week, do that test and post the results.

bop11

Since the starter is out of the car, it won't draw a super amount of current to spin. However, it does have a lot of torque so make sure it is held tight. Normal cause for starter not to retract is; a broken Bendix (return) spring, Improper gear mesh either gears too close or at an angle, Buggered up gears from running starter with engine running, Dirty or bad solenoid slide bearing.

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iTrader: (1)

Got my old starter out yesterday. While we were driving the car up the ramps the starter suddenly started to work properly again.
By the looks of it, it's just gummed up, but I'll take it apart later today.
The new starter is in the car now, working as expected.

Thanks for your input, guys!

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iTrader: (1)

Well now... except for a slightly worn bushing, I can't see anything wrong with the old solenoid.
The springs are intact and all components are able to move freely, even the arm connecting the solenoid to the rest.
The plate of the, let's say "pushrod", looked very rusty where it connects to the arm, so I don't want to guess how the actual starter looks.
I couldn't get the main starter motor apart, because it seems to be corroded shut.