sixt1vette

Well, to start this story and question, tonight I deeply regretted not getting the battery disconnect switch that is sitting on my workbench installed.....here's what happened.
I went to start my '61 to night and as it was cranking I turned the key off - but the engine kept cranking over! On top of that there was a god awful screeching/squealing sound (hard to describe, but sort of a metal-to-metal scraping/screeching). I frantically tried to turn the key off (no dice) so I quickly pop the hood to get a wrench on the battery cable and disconnect the battery.
Here's the scary part -as I'm doing all this I smell gas and see a real fine stream of gas coming out of the connection on my inline filter near the carb. WTF!!! So I grab a rag (the car is running by this point but still screeching - neighbors are coming out of their houses at this point) and block the leak. I quickly loosened the battery cable and poped it off. Car stopped of course.
Also kicking myself at this point because I've been looking at fire extinguishers online and hadn't bought one yet. If the car had caught fire sitting in our garage who knows how bad the fire would have gotten and what we would have lost aside from the '61.

aside from feeling real foolish and a bit lucky (in a bad way), here's my questions:

Does this sound like the ignition switch is the culprit?
If not, what other situations could have caused this (short in the starter)?
And what the heck might the screeching have been?

I'll take all the chiding, cautions, snid comments, etc. on this as I deserve them all, but I'd really like your constructive comments as well. Thanks,

67vetteal

Pull the Starter down and have it checked. You can check the wiring yourself with either a Multi-meter or a simple test light. Did you smell anything bad? Al W.

sixt1vette

Didn't smell anything - except all the gas (not really funny though).

I should have mentioned in my original post that this situation had actually happened once before a couple months ago (except w/o the gas leak). In that instance the car did turn off after a couple tries (but it screetched then too as I described for this event). No smell that time either.

I'm a dunce about electrical, but what is the correct procedure to check the starter with the multi-meter? How am I checking it and how will know if I have a problem?

Keep the comment and suggestions coming please.

Randy G.

If the starter solenoid sticks (welds itself) you could throw the fuse box in the trash along with the ignition switch and everything else and it won't stop the starter from cranking over. Battery disconnects are a must. NCRS doesn't take any points off for these little items either, I believe.

Plasticman

Exactly right!

Welded starter solenoid contacts! Replace the solenoid (or the whole starter - see below). The ignition coil is being fed directly from the starter solenoid when the solenoid is engaged (bypassing the ballast resistor to ensure full voltage to the coil). Even if you yanked the coil wire, the starter would of continue to turn the motor over, and that would of kept pumping gas. You did the best possible by disconnecting the battery, but of course it would of been a bit faster with the disconnect switch (as you already know).

The screeching could be the starter also (bearing?).

It could of been worse, it could of been in gear!
Plasticman

MikeM

This is probably what happened. The solenoid contacts stuck. Not all that uncommon. Take the solenoid off, take it apart and clean the contact surface of the stud that the battery cable bolts to. Also clean the disc that it contacts. Or get a new solenoid. This situation is not unique to Corvettes. It can happen to any vehicle that has contacts to spin the starter and that includes just about everything on the road.

The main thing is not to panic. The next time it happens to you, get a wrench and tighten the fuel line to stop the leak before you go grabbing at wires and creating a spark that could blow it up.

TEP061

You actually get points added for a fire extinguisher, battery disconect, and a NCRS sticker.

K2

Wow- Glad everything turned out ok!! The screeching was probably caused by the engine starting and the starter still being engaged. Replace the solenoid as stated and also check the ignition switch function with a volt meter or test light, with the starter disconnected. I have a battery diconnect switch right inside the glove box door so I can operate it from the drivers seat and can lock the glove box for added security when leaving unattended.

Pop Chevy

Look at this too. I think your starter is too tight to the flywheel. The bendix MAY be stuck to the wheel causing you noises. Possibly putting the whole starter in a bind. Something to consider.
Pops

ghoastrider1

The noise you heard was coming from the starter/flywheel ring area. If was truely as loud as you sugest, take a look at the ring gear that circles the flywheel after you take off the starter. The noise was starter teeth skipping along the ring gear teeth..thats my guess.
By the way,a starter that does NOT disengage can be dangerous. My x g/f ,years ago,was driving my 67 SS 369,and this happened to her. Starter overheated (as did wires),fire resulted, entire car ended up burnt.

crw41

Invest in a Halon extinguisher - cheap insurance against disaster.

sixt1vette

I've said it before - love this forum! Thanks to each of you for the replies. I'll go after the stuck solenoid as the key potential failure as many of you suggested.

70vert

What kind of in-line fuel filter do you have? I would never trust a rubber hose with hose clamps on the pressure side of the pump.

Matt Gruber

i've taken the battery cable off numerous cars and it should keep running(alt/gen).
perhaps the starter, being stuck on, sucked enough juice to kill it. normally, this type of kill attempt won't work.
my 61 has a switch that grounds the coil minus.

Red64RoadsterMike

Unless he already turned the key off.........

sixt1vette

Yup, key was off. But otherwise I wouldn't have known that the car wouldn't have died when I disconnected the battery cable. Matt's point was appreciated from a learning standpoint for me.

Too bad they don't have something like a "virtual beer" because if they did I'd be buying you all one each for your input.

AZDoug

Doug

Matt Gruber

when the solenoid pulls in it bypasses the ignition switch ballest resistor and hits the coil with 12v. direct. a stuck solenoid renders the key off position useless. this never happens,
well there is always the guy drinking virtual beer with the exceptiom.

CrCrzy

Matt,
Can you explain the switch that grounds the coil minus?

Plasticman

Just a SPST switch (single pole/single throw) that is attached to ground on one side and the coil minus on the other. Throw the switch and it grounds the coil (like the points do, but no spark since the switch does not open until you want it to). This is one of the most common kill switches, and still effective. Hide it where you can easily get at it from the driver's seat.

Some guys convert the cig. lighter into this kill switch. Push the cig. lighter in to kill the ignition (and pull it out when you want to start the engine). Just remove the positive lead on the cig. lighter, and run a new lead from the - coil to the center terminal at the cig. lighter.

Plasticman