OK.
I drove my car all morning, started fine, ran fine. pulled in the driveway.
I went to start it again, and the car started and was running but the starter kept going.
I took the starter off thinking it was the starter, and took it too autozone, they tested it, and said it was fine.
put it back on the car, hooked up the battery and as soon as I hooked up the battery the car tried to start.
I thought it might be my remote start from my viper 550 alarm system. however I talked to circuit city where I purchased the alarm and they said that that could not be it. because I had someone hold the brake and that would have stopped it.. however it didnt.. and it was also trying to start right away.. when the alarm tries to start the car it doesnt try to start right away.. there is a delay and then it makes a clicking sound (the ignition doing its deal or whatever) then the starter goes..
and also now when I do hook up the battery and the starter goes, it's not turning the engine.. just making the starter make a noise.
what is going on!!!! HELP!!

is it my ignition?
is it my key swittch?
is the guy @ autozone an idiot, and it is the starter?

 

First I would check for a grounded out wire allowing the starter to turn w/o the switch. Next, I'd check the switch itself (PITA since it is on top of the steering column facing the dash!) The clicking sounds like it may have weakened your battery, try a charge/load test/replace.


------------------
Corry Lazarowitz
clazarow@voicenet.com
clazarowitz@hotmail.com
1987 Pontiac Trans AM (GTA?) 350 TPI
SLP 1 3/4" headers, 3" cat back (stock cat MSD ignition.
MSD Blaster SS coil.
3.73 Rear end gears
Accell 8.8 Wires
Bosh +4 Spark Plugs (Don't know if they really help but hell!)
Holley AFPR
Newly Self gutted cat!
More soon when funds are avail...

 

Quoted from Haynes Manual! Troubleshooting section!!

#3 Starter Motor operates without rotating engine
--------------------------------------------
1. Starter pinion sticking. Remove the starter and inspect.
2. Starter pinion or flywheel teeth worn or broken. Remove the cover at the rear of the engine and inspect.


If you had the starter checked already then I would get under the car and check ALL of the teeth on your flywheel! If the starter was turning w/out the motor turning then it's likely that you have some missing teeth on the flywheel!! If it's not the flywheel then get a new starter because the pinion on that one is f*cked!! I don't care what the parts store says! I've learned that the people at Autozone aren't ALWAYS right! The idiots!! They've been wrong with me several times before!



[This message has been edited by 86TpiTransAm (edited April 14, 2001).]

 

I checked the flywheel, and it's in perfect shape.
I think it's the ignition switch. I can't think of why else it would try to start by itself other than the alarm which I've already eliminated as a cause.
I don't know why it's not turning the engine tho, the starter is makes the noise, but it dont turn the engine.. It could STILL also be the starter is working, but just not engaging against the flywheel.. its only less than a year old starter.. hard to believe it's shot already! I didnt even drive the car for the whole winter. and I replaced the starter in the spring of last year.
Mark


Mark

 

BB,

Welcome aboard!

Unfortunately, if the starter motor is turning but not engaging the flywheel, the starter will need to be removed. At the very least, the pinion drive and clutch are not working. A spinning starter should engage the flywheel regardless of what is causing the starter to operate.

As far as the starter operating as soon as the battery is connected, there can only be a couple of possibilities. Either the starter solenoid contacts are welded together (stuck) or the solenoid is being energized by some source, like the switch or the remote starter. Since the starter has been tested, there aren't many other options. The starter switch on the column could be stuck, but if it is, you could eliminate that possibility by putting the transmission in gear when connecting the battery (have someone in the car ready to hit the brake in case it starts). The PARK/NEUTRAL safety switch is wired in the starter circuit, and it would be nearly impossible for both of them to have failed simultaneously, and both in the closed mode.

I wouldn't be so fast to trust the Circuit City people on this one. The first thing they are going to tell you is that is isn't their warranteed equipment that is causing a problem. Unless you PROVE to them that their Viper is screwed, they will refuse to believe it.

What they said is true. The system is not designed to operate that way, and should stop when the brake is applied. Of course, they didn't take into consideration the possibilities of an improperly installed system or a failed component, like the start relay contacts welding closed (DU-UH!) which would operate the starter whenever the battery was connected, regardless of the system logic circuitry and brake and other safety switch inputs.

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Later,
Vader
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"What a Day..."
Adobe Acrobat Reader

 

Ok guys.. thanks for your inputs!
The response that said don't trust autozone!
well! you hit the money!
it was the starter, I had the starter tested
@ Autozone, and that's what threw me off and made me look @ other options. but I found out that it was a bad starter on my own, replaced it, and now the car is working perfect. maybe this information and the trouble I went through will help others in the future though.

Mark