Ever since I put the new motor in, every once in awhile, my starter will keep cranking after I turn the key off. I noticed that it only seems to do it when you let it crank for more than 5 seconds (its cold, no choke, lots of initial timing = hard starts sometimes) also it only tends to do this when the battery is running low? I don't have my alternator hooked up yet so after starting/stopping it a few times, and the battery getting low, is when it always seems to start doing it.

Usually it just cranks for like a second or two after you let off the key but today it went crazy and ran until the battery drained out. Very scary.... I'm lucky the battery was already low so it didn't burn up anything. My starter is a CVR ministarter and all the wiring is solid and the wires arent touching each other.

What could be causing this? I'm pretty clueless and afraid to start my car now.

Thanks,
Chris

 

It sounds like your solenoid is sticking, either from a solenoid fault or an improperly shimmed starter.

 

I'm hoping it just needs shimming ...stupid me never even thought about that. I was talking to my friend (who builds race cars for a living) He said it might be "normal operation" of the starter... He picked up a installation instruction booklet for a CSI ministarter and at the bottom of the page it says "due to the starter drive construction it is normal for the starter to stay engaged, until engine has started" What the heck is up with that? I hope it isn't doing that because its normal

Thanks,
Chris

 

just how long does it keep running once the engine has cranked?


If it stops as soon as the engine is fully cranked, then I would say it sounds normal cinsidering what the book has to say about it. I would take another look at the installation if it's running longer than that though.

 

I think Vader is dead on with it being improperly shimmed. It happened to me the first time I turned the key after dropping in my 355. It also took out my battery and starter in the process.

I doubt this is the problem since you say it tends to only happen when the battery is low. I would think it would be less likely for it to work "as designed" with a low battery. My $.02

 

That happened to me on my s10. It was definately the selonoid. The key to this is that even with the key OFF! (all the way) it kept cranking. It's not like it just isn't releasing back! It just keeps on cranking and cranking even with the key off.

Replace the selonoid!

 

The same thing just happened to my starter. It would keep cranking until the engine started, even if you turn the key to off. I didn't think to much of it until it wouldn't stop one day and smoke started come out from under the hood. It took my almost 5 minutes to get the hood open and to get the battery disconnected. By then the Negative battery cable had got so hot it burned the plastic off of the wire( thats what was smoking). Anway I just bought a new battery because that would have been the second solinoid in like a year, and the starter had some trouble cranking the motor over anyways. As for shime my starter never had shims and never acted up before. The new starter has no problems and it isn't shimmed. I would fix your problem as soon as possible cause it could damage something.

 

If the engine starts (while starter is cranking uncontrollably) the starter will instantly stop ...it never grinds or anything. I'm leaning towards it needing to be shimmed since I never checked the clearances like I should have in the first place. If its the solenoid I'm going to be very angry ...I didnt pay $150 for a starter that doesn't work right outta the box.

Its gonna be fun this weekend pulling this starter out with my Hooker long tubes ...I'll do some measuring and testing and hopefully figure this problem out.

Thanks for the replies,
Chris

 

Turns out the clearances were insanely tight. I shimmed it so theres about .050 clearance and its working fine so far.

Thanks,
Chris

 

ya be careful with that man. Night before last my buddies car (not an f-bod, but same problem, with the starter staying on sometimes) got stuck on 100%, couldn't turn it or the car off, even took the key outta the ignition. I was gonna pop the hood and disconnect the electrical (battery and or distributor wires). But then i start hearing a noise banding against the hood very quickly and decided not to open it. Long story short, it ended up catching fire. so take care of them starters!