Starter Running Without Ignition Turned On

[wildbill23c]

Ok, so I go into town and stop at the store on my way to work. Come out start the Bronco 2 and starter continues to spin after I release the key. Drive around the corner to work, shut it off take the key out and the starter is still turning the engine over. Had to disconnect the battery. What do I need to replace?

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Disconnect the small wire/terminal on the start solenoid and connect the battery if the starter still spins it is the solenoid. If the starter does not spin make sur the key is off and then connect the small wire if the starter spins the ignition switch is bad.

 

[Mark_88]

Yep...solenoid can short out meaning the starter is getting constant juice...that is more likely the cause because I went through about 4 solenoids that were causing the same symptoms...

 

[adsm08]

Solenoid is most likely if it keeps spinning with the clutch up. That should break the trigger circuit. I had my stuff wired up backwards once and the engine would die when I let the clutch out.

 

[wildbill23c]

Thanks guys, pretty sure I probably damaged the starter since I drove it from the store back to work with the starter engaged still. So looks like probably a solenoid and starter at least, will find out more Monday as its sitting in the shop at the high school since I've had to work all day and didn't have time to mess with it or get it back home, high school kids in shop needed another project anyhow LOL.

 

[wildbill23c]

Ok, so I got the starter and solenoid replaced a couple weeks ago which fixed the problem until today. It started doing the same thing again. WTF is going on, this is starter relay #2 in one month. Any ideas what the problem could be to keep going through relays?

 

[Mark_88]

Maybe the fusable link on the starter circuit is wonky??? There is, IIRC, a green wire with a fuse on it that connects to the solenoid positive side I believe...

Other than that, I went through a phase where I blew out three solenoids before finally correcting the problem...and the problem was the quality of the solenoids...they were shorting out internally and I did not change anything on the wiring or swap in other parts...

There should be a ceramic or plastic separator between the two main posts...this keeps the battery connections away from arching...and the arching is what causes the starter to keep running...I found two of my solenoids had that part disintegrated but on one of them it was intact with the same results...so it was shorting out internally...

I think I finally grabbed one out of the junk yard (better quality but very used) that is still on my truck...and I always carry a spare...so grab two if you can find them...they are the same on the 2.3 liter engines as the 2.8...I think!

 

[Lil-Pony]

Had the same problem with my 84, how god of shape is your wireing harnes? If not to good check under the dash in the wire bundle to see if the start wire is grounding out on a hot wire as well. Thats what mine did took for ever to figure it out

 

[wildbill23c]

Well this morning I set out to replace the solenoid once again. After examining some wires I found one that goes to the little terminal on the side of the solenoid that had bare wires which were hitting above the headlight on the passenger side. I fixed that, then started installing the new solenoid only to break the cheap ass plastic housing while attaching that little wire. Took both solenoids back to the parts store, got a refund for them and then bought the top of the line solenoid they had which has a 3 year warranty, got it home got it installed and have driven it around town all day, seems to be ok, and the starting seems to actually be smoother with this solenoid, so maybe the others were just garbage to begin with. Heaven forbid something was made in the USA rather than China or Taiwan.

 

[Mark_88]

Glad to hear you got it done...~