C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

starter keeps going with igniton off

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 15, 2010 | 02:13 PM
  #1  
markhperry's Avatar
markhperry
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
Default starter keeps going with igniton off

69 427/400 vert I can turn ignition on and starter turns over fine, but if i turn key off it still trys to crank. Starter and solenoid work fine off car. Any suggestions?
Reply
Old Dec 15, 2010 | 02:32 PM
  #2  
wombvette's Avatar
wombvette
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
Default

Originally Posted by markhperry
69 427/400 vert I can turn ignition on and starter turns over fine, but if i turn key off it still trys to crank. Starter and solenoid work fine off car. Any suggestions?
Wired wrong.
Reply
Old Dec 15, 2010 | 02:45 PM
  #3  
Gilded_Splinters's Avatar
Gilded_Splinters
Racer
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 332
Likes: 1
From: Watkins Glen New York
Default

That's what I would have said too provided it's a new or newly installed switch.

If its old and just started doing this, I would guess that the switch has gone bad. I had this happen on a boat this past year.
Reply
Old Dec 15, 2010 | 03:05 PM
  #4  
markhperry's Avatar
markhperry
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
Default

I thought it might be the switch. It has just started this. Is there a way to get to that switch without dropping steering column?
Reply
Old Dec 16, 2010 | 08:22 AM
  #5  
tommyleea's Avatar
tommyleea
Racer
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
From: Warrensburg MO
Default

I would shoot the wires before replacing anything. Disconnect the small wire at the starter, and see if you are getting power to it even when the switch is not in the start position.
Reply
Old Dec 16, 2010 | 09:12 AM
  #6  
markhperry's Avatar
markhperry
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
Default

The small wire at starter, are you talking about the wire on the R terminal or S terminal
Reply
Old Dec 16, 2010 | 10:42 AM
  #7  
Peterbuilt's Avatar
Peterbuilt
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,425
Likes: 1,559
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Default

Originally Posted by markhperry
The small wire at starter, are you talking about the wire on the R terminal or S terminal
Turning the key switch to "START" sends battery voltage to the S terminal on the starter.
The S terminal wire is purple and is connected to the solenoid terminal closest to the block.

When the purple wire is energized the solenoid coils pull in and that sends power to the starter and the yellow R terminal wire.

Once you turn the key to run or any other position there should not be any power in the S terminal.
Reply
Old Dec 16, 2010 | 10:54 AM
  #8  
iveym5's Avatar
iveym5
Instructor
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: Apple Valley MN
Default

Had that happen to me once when I was a teenager. I had cranked the motor over for too long because it wouldn't start. The wires going down to the starter overheated from the current draw and melted together shorting them out. I had to jump out and yank the battery cables off to get it to stop.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Dec 16, 2010 | 10:59 AM
  #9  
markhperry's Avatar
markhperry
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
Default

So if I have voltage at the S terminal in the run position where is my problem?
Reply
Old Dec 16, 2010 | 01:19 PM
  #10  
...Roger...'s Avatar
...Roger...
Race Director
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Default

Try doing this,disconnect the purple from the S term on the solenoid,put a test light on the purple wire,turn your key to start,confirm test light lights,then release key to ON position,if light stays lit the ignition switch is bad or misadjusted,if the light goes out its something wrong with the starter.
Reply
Old Dec 16, 2010 | 02:44 PM
  #11  
markhperry's Avatar
markhperry
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
Default

So when I turn the key ON there should be no voltage on the S terminal. There should be voltage in the RUN position. Correct?
That seems to be different from what pete74 is saying
Reply
Old Dec 16, 2010 | 03:09 PM
  #12  
...Roger...'s Avatar
...Roger...
Race Director
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Default

Originally Posted by petes74ttop
Turning the key switch to "START" sends battery voltage to the S terminal on the starter.
The S terminal wire is purple and is connected to the solenoid terminal closest to the block.

When the purple wire is energized the solenoid coils pull in and that sends power to the starter and the yellow R terminal wire.

Once you turn the key to run or any other position there should not be any power in the S terminal.
Originally Posted by markhperry
So when I turn the key ON there should be no voltage on the S terminal. There should be voltage in the RUN position. Correct?
That seems to be different from what pete74 is saying
No Petes correct,were getting our positions mixed up.
Run is ON , the position that the engine runs in as your driving down the road
Start is start or crank when the key is forced all the way against spring pressure

In the Start position the purple and the S terminal should have power.
In the On position the purple and S should not have power BUT the yellow and the R terminal should have power.

If the yellow is accidentally put on the S terminal with the purple the engine will start but the starter will remain cranking in the ON position also. Like is happening to your car.
Reply
Old Dec 16, 2010 | 04:45 PM
  #13  
markhperry's Avatar
markhperry
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
Default

thanks
Reply
Old Dec 17, 2010 | 12:43 AM
  #14  
troutster71's Avatar
troutster71
Racer
15 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 261
Likes: 4
From: Albuquerque Resistance is not futile. It's voltage divided by current.
Default I changed the solenoid

Originally Posted by markhperry
69 427/400 vert I can turn ignition on and starter turns over fine, but if i turn key off it still trys to crank. Starter and solenoid work fine off car. Any suggestions?
Had this exact problem on my friends '68 427 Camaro. We were pulling

our hair out when we started changing parts. That was after many

creative and exhaustive electrical checks. And yes, it was wired

correctly. Finally changed the solenoid and that fixed it.

Also worked fine off the car, had to be some sort of load induced

short in the solenoid. I believe it was an Autozone reman unit.

Hope this helps, Gary
Reply
Old Dec 17, 2010 | 10:42 AM
  #15  
Peterbuilt's Avatar
Peterbuilt
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,425
Likes: 1,559
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Default

Originally Posted by ...Roger...
Try doing this,disconnect the purple from the S term on the solenoid,put a test light on the purple wire,turn your key to start,confirm test light lights,then release key to ON position,if light stays lit the ignition switch is bad or maladjusted,if the light goes out its something wrong with the starter.
Try this test and post back the results.
Reply
Old Dec 18, 2010 | 12:03 PM
  #16  
markhperry's Avatar
markhperry
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
Default

I have checked the S wire and the R wire... The S wire has no voltage in the Run position and voltage in the Start position. The R wire has voltage in the run position, So I guess my starter is bad.. It works fine off car, I guess it could be a load problem. It has a new solenoid and starter has been rebuilt. I will pull starter and have it checked again. Any other suggestions
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To starter keeps going with igniton off





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:53 AM.

story-0
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-1
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-4
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-5
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-7
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE