Starter won't stop

[Nitrous]

Hey guys, sorry for not posting in a while but have a lot going on. I have an electrical question that I wondered if someone else had the same problem. First off I pulled into the gas station and filled up with gas. When I went to start the truck I could smell electrical burning and the starter wouldn't even do anything, no solenoid movement. I towed it home and replace end the switch on the steering column, solenoid wire and new hi induction starter. I drove it for a couple of days running great. Tonight I pull up at the store and after 20 minutes of shopping I go to start it and nothing. I check everything out again and start it again but this time it starts and won't shut off. I turned the ignition switch a couple of times trying to get it to stop with no luck. I jump out and disconnect the battery but the starter was smoking at this time. No big deal because it's under warranty. I think the contacts stuck in the switch but always value you guys opinions. Sorry for the long post but I wanted to make sure I had everything in it. Any suggestions? I'm a mechanic and mainly build Lsx engines but this is the first time in my 35 plus years of working on trucks that this has happened.

 

[Don W.]

Re: Starter won't stop

Hey guys, sorry for not posting in a while but have a lot going on. I have an electrical question that I wondered if someone else had the same problem. First off I pulled into the gas station and filled up with gas. When I went to start the truck I could smell electrical burning and the starter wouldn't even do anything, no solenoid movement. I towed it home and replace end the switch on the steering column, solenoid wire and new hi induction starter. I drove it for a couple of days running great. Tonight I pull up at the store and after 20 minutes of shopping I go to start it and nothing. I check everything out again and start it again but this time it starts and won't shut off. I turned the ignition switch a couple of times trying to get it to stop with no luck. I jump out and disconnect the battery but the starter was smoking at this time. No big deal because it's under warranty. I think the contacts stuck in the switch but always value you guys opinions. Sorry for the long post but I wanted to make sure I had everything in it. Any suggestions? I'm a mechanic and mainly build Lsx engines but this is the first time in my 35 plus years of working on trucks that this has happened.

When you say "solenoid wire" which wire are you referring to? the infamous purple wire?

Only a couple of things gonna keep the starter engaged. Continuous voltage applied to the solenoid. A hung solenoid. (You can do these in either order but I think it's easier in this order.) Disconnect the solenoid wire from the starter reapply battery voltage to the truck, obviously with the bat cable still attached to the starter. Does the starter run? Yes? Hung sol.

Next, check voltage at the sol wire. Is it hot with the key in any position other than start? there's your issue. Play with the key a bunch if time to confirm.

Unless miss-wired somehow (without actually seeing the starter I won't speculate here) the starter can only run when the contacts in the solenoid are closed. Question is why.

HTH

 

[Damian]

Re: Starter won't stop

Maybe there are frayed wires at the solenoid making contact with the power from the battery? Probably not that simple but you never know.

 

[sly dvl]

Re: Starter won't stop

I've seen this happen a few time throughout my career. 9 times out of 10 it's the solenoid that has failed and kept the starter engaged. I'm going to assume that your truck didn't actually start when the starter stuck, so to me that rules out an ignition switch/steering column problem.
I would be concerned why you smelled an electrical burning prior to replacing the starter. What was burning?

 

[Don W.]

Re: Starter won't stop

I've seen this happen a few time throughout my career. 9 times out of 10 it's the solenoid that has failed and kept the starter engaged. I'm going to assume that your truck didn't actually start when the starter stuck, so to me that rules out an ignition switch/steering column problem.
I would be concerned why you smelled an electrical burning prior to replacing the starter. What was burning?

The way he writes it it sounds like the initial failure was the switch. (Key to start, nothing happens, and he gets a smell.) I'm with you as far as the sol is concerned. Seen a couple of times myself. No offense to anyone but I've changed my ign sw and it's a bit tricky to get right. If not done right I suspect a no start could occur. He did say he changed his sw.

Just for trivia most of the stuck solenoids I've seen are stuck in the released position. You have to hold the key in start and bang the starter at the same time to get it to start. If it will at all.

 

[syclone809]

Re: Starter won't stop

http://www.syty.net/forums/showthread.php?t=89882
Here is the thread DaveP was referencing, as he's the one who diagnosed the problem, it'll give you an idea why you smell burning

 

[Nitrous]

Re: Starter won't stop

Thanks for the replies everyone! :tup: The ignition switch was burning so I changed it out just for safety. I have to agree with the solenoid being defective but I found the purple solenoid wire burnt up in the harness and starting to fray. I replaced the purple wire and installed the warrantied starter and so far no problems. I put a 2005 - or newer starter on because it's small and cranks fast. The stater number is 9990S brand new not rebuilt and can be installed with one hand, probably weighs 2-3 pounds guessing. Anyway I'm up again and appreciate the help. I feel the purple wire and solenoid were the problem. Nitrous :tup: