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Starter motor problems, I think.

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Old Sep 8, 2018 | 04:26 PM
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Default Starter motor problems, I think.

I was trying to start the 62 today after driving back from the store. It started hard at the store but I made it home ok. Upon trying to start again though, it turned over a few times sounding sickly and stopped all together. I tried to turn the key a few more times and the wires behind the ignition switch became so hot they started to smoke! I disconnected the battery quickly and found two wires melted together right behind the key switch plug. I fixed that, checked the new ultima battery, it's charged. So I tried to start once more after waiting an hour to cool off. Same thing, silence, and hot ignition wires. Turned it off and disconnected the battery. Ya think the starter motor and or solenoid took a dump? I've had no problems with it up to this point except hard starts when the motors hot, but it always fired after several revolutions. Where to begin?
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Old Sep 8, 2018 | 05:26 PM
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Do a visual of the wires from the key switch all the way to the starter and look for pinched, damaged, burnt wiring, then................

............ I would disconnect the purple wire from the starter solenoid and see if the wires still got hot. If they do, work back to the firewall connector and disconnect there.

That would localize the problem. You could use an ohmmeter instead of turning the key to start.

Last edited by MikeM; Sep 8, 2018 at 05:27 PM.
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Old Sep 8, 2018 | 05:45 PM
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Originally Posted by MikeM
Do a visual of the wires from the key switch all the way to the starter and look for pinched, damaged, burnt wiring, then................

............ I would disconnect the purple wire from the starter solenoid and see if the wires still got hot. If they do, work back to the firewall connector and disconnect there.

That would localize the problem. You could use an ohmmeter instead of turning the key to start.
Great thanks. I have one. Thankfully it's in my garage with the help of my neighbors boys.
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Old Sep 9, 2018 | 06:43 AM
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After a physical inspection I would short across the solenoid terminals with a screwdriver....if the solenoid doesn't "thunk" into engagement then its bad or possibly the starter internal "drive" is hung (item #2) and easily replaced.

If the starter is bad - you can get an entire rebuild around my neck of the woods for $85...

Last edited by Frankie the Fink; Sep 9, 2018 at 06:45 AM.
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Old Sep 9, 2018 | 08:29 AM
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Keep a fire extinguisher nearby while you sort this out.
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Old Sep 9, 2018 | 11:34 AM
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Only one wire activates the solenoid. You said wires got got. You definitely have a short, somewhere.
FWIW, I made a replaceable pigtail, that connects to a covered terminal strip, for the three wires that go to the starter. Besides being able to replace the wires to the starter easily, it allows simple starter bumping or even turnover by jumping at the terminal strip which is on the firewall.

Doug
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Old Sep 9, 2018 | 12:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Brew715
I was trying to start the 62 today after driving back from the store. It started hard at the store but I made it home ok. Upon trying to start again though, it turned over a few times sounding sickly and stopped all together. I tried to turn the key a few more times and the wires behind the ignition switch became so hot they started to smoke! I disconnected the battery quickly and found two wires melted together right behind the key switch plug. I fixed that, checked the new ultima battery, it's charged. So I tried to start once more after waiting an hour to cool off. Same thing, silence, and hot ignition wires. Turned it off and disconnected the battery. Ya think the starter motor and or solenoid took a dump? I've had no problems with it up to this point except hard starts when the motors hot, but it always fired after several revolutions. Where to begin?
If you have ignition shielding on check if coil wires are contacting it.
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