Starter keeps cranking with key off!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,086
Likes: 786
From: Lebanon Township New Jersey
Starter keeps cranking with key off!
Got my 77 started today, weak battery and it barely turned over. Went for a 20 minute ride. Back in the driveway, turned off the ignition then tried to restart. Starter cranked very slowly again. Engine wasn't going to start so I released the key but the starter kept cranking (slowly). I took the key out and it still kept turning the engine slowly until I loosened the disconnect on the positive cable. 15 minutes later, tightened the cable and tried it again. Cranked a little faster and the engine started normally. Put the car in the garage and I have the battery charger going. The starter is a Jegs mini starter, new last November. Is there a problem with the starter, ignition switch or what?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,662
Likes: 8
From: Knoxville Tennessee
Trying to start a car with a low batter is not good for the starter. It draws more amps and could burn your fusable links into. It sounds like you switch may have stuck because of the low voltage condition. Get your batter charged, or checked and try it with a strong battery and see if it happens again.
Bernie
Bernie
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 18,640
Likes: 121
From: Farragut,TN
with bernie however it might be a stuck starter solenoid. iv'e had it happen on fords a swift lick with a small peen hammer usualy does the trick. Think of the soleniod as a relay which amoug other things it is you close the contact from the battery to the starter motor if the contact sticks the starter will continue to turn even with the key off. the only the key does is supply power to the soleniod coil to star the start sequence once it is energised it pulls a ring up to another ring with the full battery when the other ring makes contact the starter is energised.
