starter solenoid wire issue

[davemmiller]

If the white wire attached to the solenoid goes bad, possibly a break under the insulation, what kind of sound would you hear when trying to turn over the engine? Would it be a whirring? I went through 3 starters from Autozone. I installed them, turned the ignition and all i heard was the whirring. Each time i returned to Autozone and they tested each of them. They all worked fine.
My guess is the starter is turning but not engaging due to a possible bad wire.
The only other thing would be the starter relay but it is not located where the ol' Haynes manual says to find it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I do have a new wire i could run but i am not sure where the one connected goes to.

Thank you,

Dave

 

[davemmiller]

I took the wire off the solenoid, tried starting the truck and nothing happened. So it isn't the wire.

 

[modelageek]

This. Is just a thought but I think nornally when thestarter engages it throws the bendix into the flywheel if the bendix is not working it can make a whir sound however I doubt you got a bad bendix 3 times if you have a standard let the truck roll and then pop the clutch this will turn the flywheel alittle. Then try to start it

What was the old starter doing

 

[davemmiller]

The old starter was doing the exact same thing. The folks at the Autozone went above and beyond what they should have done. 3 starters exact same problem for me. They actually gave me the best starter they had which isnt a rebuilt one. This is leads me to believe that there is an electrical issue.

I've been roll starting for about 2 months. truck runs great except for this issue. I also need to get the emissions done and the truck has to be turned off and then started which can't be done. Friggin frustrating.

If it is an electrical issue, I can always run new wires to it. I was also thinking that if the relay is bad, i'd probably get no whirring sound.

 

[JEB1962]

the flywheel maybe?

 

[Resurrection Ranger]

the flywheel maybe?

ditto! Your old starter may have jacked the ring gear up on the flywheel. How are the teeth on your old starter?

 

[Earl43P]

There are two wires to the starter.
The small one routes power to the "solenoid" (electromagnet) to extend the gear on the shaft to engage the flywheel while the other big wire, Constant B+ actually turns the starter motor itself. That electromagnetic action makes a switch, routing that B+.

If the constant B+ cable is bad, that little wire doesn't carry enough current to do both tasks.


In short, I believe your large starter cable is bad, replace it.

 

[davemmiller]

the flywheel is in good condition. I thought I had ripped teeth out of itwhen the starter issue happened. I can see where the starter used to engage the flywheel and see what looks to be clean metal where the starter was hitting the edge of it.

would it be safe to run a 4gauge jumper to the starter from battery to test it?

 

[davemmiller]

B+ being the constant then yes it will be ok for me to make a jumper to test. The first beer is throwin me off already.

Thank you for the help.

Dave

 

[davemmiller]

Well, I made a new cable, 4gauge and ran it to the battery and nothing. Asked a friend and mentioned making another ground strap so i did. Since the starter is using the transmission as ground and may it was bad, I made a ground cable from old jumper cables from one of the mounting bolts to the neg terminal on the batter. Nothing. Starter still whirring. now that I have supplied the starter with power through clean connections and it isnt working, it has to be the solenoid. There isn't any way that it is not getting enough current or power. Battery is new' terminal connectors are clean.

It'd be funny if this last starter they gave me actually was broken.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

did you try turning the crank by hand a little and then try and start it there are alot of teeth on the flywheel or flex plate and I am betting on the flywheel has a few bad teeth.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Be sure and turn it the same way as the engine runs so you dont throw it out of time.

 

[davemmiller]

... and sometimes they sell you a broken part. Yup, solenoid was broken. I think i may have them test the parts before i walk out the door. I do have all the new wires in place so there aren't any problems with grounding or enough current.

Well, on to the next issue...... oil pan gasket.

Thanks again for are y'alls help.

 

[davemmiller]

One more thing, there was a Tech Bulletin included with this starter. There is a small wire attached to the iignition post. Apparently the last 4 inches of the old lead are prone to corrosion and needs to be placed.