Starter won't disengage?
09-03-2008, 12:25 PM
#1
1st Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 60
Starter won't disengage?
I have a '90 5.0 Fox that is having a strange issue. Every once in a while when I start it, the starter won't disengage. So when I let go of the key, it keeps trying to start the car and you get the wonderful grinding of the flywheel like when you try to start the car when its already running. Anyways, I then have to hold the brake and let off the clutch while its in gear and just kill the battery to get it to stop. Either that or take all the teeth off the flywheel. Anyways, if i let it sit for a day, recharge the battery, then it would be fine for another month or so. But it did it one more time and now totally won't disengage. Battery is dead, and as soon as you hook up some jumper cables, its trying to start.
i am thinking that its either a bad starter, or the relay that controls the starter is sticking, but i have generally found that they usually stick open, not closed. What is your thinking? Should i just suck it up and replace the starter?
i am thinking that its either a bad starter, or the relay that controls the starter is sticking, but i have generally found that they usually stick open, not closed. What is your thinking? Should i just suck it up and replace the starter?
09-03-2008, 01:42 PM
#5
Gentleman's Relish
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: AZ
Posts: 13,090
Could also be the bendix on the starter is getting stuck.... If the starter is easy to reach, take it off, clean it thourghly with carb cleaner or electrical parts cleaner, take it to a parts store and bench test it. Sticky bendix is usually due to dirt, oil and grime build up around the gear and spring of the starter.
If that passes then look at the solenoid.
If that passes then look at the solenoid.
09-03-2008, 01:59 PM
#6
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Summerville SC
Posts: 209
The starter isn't exactly what you would call easy to get to. you have to jack the car up and take the right side wheel off and go through the wheel well area to get to one of the bolts. But it doesn't sound like the starter, if it was the starter i doubt it would constantly try and start the car, especially if its doing it just cause the battery is hooked up, did I hear that right? Change the selenoid befor you even think about looking at the starter. If thats not it you can always take the selenoid back, or keep it, that way you have a spare if you ever need it, $8 isn't that much of a loss.
09-03-2008, 02:07 PM
#7
1st Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 60
The starter isn't exactly what you would call easy to get to. you have to jack the car up and take the right side wheel off and go through the wheel well area to get to one of the bolts. But it doesn't sound like the starter, if it was the starter i doubt it would constantly try and start the car, especially if its doing it just cause the battery is hooked up, did I hear that right? Change the selenoid befor you even think about looking at the starter. If thats not it you can always take the selenoid back, or keep it, that way you have a spare if you ever need it, $8 isn't that much of a loss.
09-03-2008, 02:35 PM
#9
Gentleman's Relish
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: AZ
Posts: 13,090
The starter isn't exactly what you would call easy to get to. you have to jack the car up and take the right side wheel off and go through the wheel well area to get to one of the bolts. But it doesn't sound like the starter, if it was the starter i doubt it would constantly try and start the car, especially if its doing it just cause the battery is hooked up, did I hear that right? Change the selenoid befor you even think about looking at the starter. If thats not it you can always take the selenoid back, or keep it, that way you have a spare if you ever need it, $8 isn't that much of a loss.