TRICKS TO Trouble ShootING THE Starter

[relam]

CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, BUT WAY BACK WHEN I USED TO WORK ON MY CARS WASN'T THERE A WAY OF JUMPING THE STARTER TO THE RELAY TO SEE IF IT RESPONDED?

DIDN'T U HAVE TO HAVE THE IGNITION TURNED BY SOMEONE.

CAN SOME ONE REFRESH MY BAD MEMORY PLEASE

BATTERY IS GOOD AND IGNITION SWITCH SEEMS TO BE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY

 

[Cranky]

You can cross the relay with a wrench on the large and small terminals or use a remote starter switch connected to the same large and small terminals on the relay. Can do the same thing down at the starter.....and you do not need anyone on the ignition switch. Better for it to be off anyways. The starter will run with the ignition off. If the ignition is on, and the car is in gear, it can and will start up and move. Make sure it's in park either way to be safe.

 

[Dennis H]

Rubber Mallet was my tool of choice for starter issues.

 

[relam]

HEY
THANKS GUYS, THE HAMMER IDEA I BELIEVE WOULD WORK, PROBABLY A STUCK BRUSH. BUT I DO RECALL PUTTING A SCREW DRIVER ACROSS THE CONNECTORS AFTER CRANKY MENTIONED THE WRENCH.

BIG THANKS
I WILL SEND YOU THE RESULTS.

 

[Redcreekauto]

Also typing in all uppercase is considered yelling. If you have to tap to get it to turn over its time to yank the starter and either replace it or rebuild it.

 

[jz61]

I could use some help also, put in re-man starter about 3months ago. all seemed fine , cranked over real nice. it is the large old style unit,heavy as a mofo! yesterday I start car, it fires rite up, but I can hear what it assume is the bemdix running on. I shut off car and take keys out and its still running on, so I disconnect battery quick, but as soon as I try to re-connect battery, starter begins to whine. put in new starter relay, still the same, so before I pull this boat anchor out and bring back to re-builder, anybody got some ideas?

 

[khryslerkid]

The solenoid that engages the bendex, in the starter, is stuck and didn't return. When the solenoid is in the "engaged" position, it makes the contact possible to the starter motor. That's why it is running when you have the battery hooked up.

 

[Cranky]

I could use some help also, put in re-man starter about 3months ago. all seemed fine , cranked over real nice. it is the large old style unit,heavy as a mofo! yesterday I start car, it fires rite up, but I can hear what it assume is the bemdix running on. I shut off car and take keys out and its still running on, so I disconnect battery quick, but as soon as I try to re-connect battery, starter begins to whine. put in new starter relay, still the same, so before I pull this boat anchor out and bring back to re-builder, anybody got some ideas?

Had that happen once....the starter shorted across the terminals/contacter at the starter.

 

[Darthomas]

Big copper washer on solenoid is welding to the armature contacts if it keeps on running.
The washer can be flipped over, but if the big contacts are too ugly, you'll need to replace them, too.
Could be also the fork that pulls in the clutch is not free moving due to corrosion in the bore of the solenoid.
You have to be a special kind of gearhead and/or cheap-*** to want to rebuild your starter, but I am, so I understand if you do.

 

[Mopars & Missiles]

Big copper washer on solenoid is welding to the armature contacts if it keeps on running.
The washer can be flipped over, but if the big contacts are too ugly, you'll need to replace them, too.
Could be also the fork that pulls in the clutch is not free moving due to corrosion in the bore of the solenoid.
You have to be a special kind of gearhead and/or cheap-*** to want to rebuild your starter, but I am, so I understand if you do.

Darthomas knows what he's talking about, ALL of this is true and accurate information. I too am a special kind of gearhead (maybe cheap ***?) since I have also done everything he's outlined here. Also have replaced just the magnetic solenoid body internal to the starter instead of replacing the whole starter. I wouldn't recommend it now, its a PITA, but back then it seemed the way to go. Young and foolish back then (cheap too!)

 

[Cranky]

I used to dig into them too but as time went on, it was quicker and cheaper and usually got a better end result when I just dropped the old starter off at a rebuilder. Same way with alternators. They checked them out and replaced anything that was needed and no more and was cheap and on my way to work. Most times it was a simple ordeal but some of the times the starter/alternator was wasted. If they were toast, they told me it would be cheaper to just buy a new or rebuilt one from the auto parts. The last time a starter ran on after releasing the key, the caulking around the terminals was split open and had probably 8 starters on the shelf so did a check on which one ran and stuck it in.

 

[jz61]

so popular opinion is out comes the starter right? I guess ill look into the smaller unit as it is just much ez-er to handle!

 

[Darthomas]

so popular opinion is out comes the starter right? I guess ill look into the smaller unit as it is just much ez-er to handle!

They don't last.
Cram in the biggest starter that will fit.

 

[Cranky]

They don't last.
Cram in the biggest starter that will fit.

The original starter is still on the wife's 2000 Durango and that vehicle has been mainly an in town car and got several starts a day for its first 10 years. The original starter on my 95 Dakota was averaging 10 starts a day for it's first 3 1/2 years until my dad passed on and when I got the truck I h had to replace it shortly after getting it but man, the original starter got nearly 15,000 starts before it died and the one on it now probably has that many if not more.....imo, the new mini starters are a much better unit plus they have more power.

 

[relam]

So Since I started this thread I wanted to give a follow up to Cranky and RedCreekauto re my starter ?
After reading the threads on this boy do I feel GOOD!
My problem was a loose nut

 

[jz61]

okay, so a day from hell! gunna change out bad starter for a mini. bring old starter to rebuilder gut, he bench tests it sez its ok. he asks how is battery? so I put in mine go to fire it up,nada! hear it spinning does not engage flywheel! go back with battery to test that, battery iffy. so new battery,still does not engage flywheel. put old full size starter in, fires rite up! 2 3 time no problem! put all tools away, and guess what ? go to start nada, starter keeps running even when key is out! MOFO! so now I'm stuck out in the rain, beat up from wrestling starters all day! so I'm thinkin, mini does not sit deep enuff to contact flywheel, full size is shorted in side or something. with out looking inside where started goes, I put my hand in and felt around, does not seem to be broken teeth on flywheel.not sure how to go about next move, short of flat bedding it to mechanic. help would be most appreciated

 

[kiwigtx]

So Since I started this thread I wanted to give a follow up to Cranky and RedCreekauto re my starter ?
After reading the threads on this boy do I feel GOOD!
My problem was a loose nut

Looks like your keyboard issues are sorted out also.

 

[69a100]

After reading the threads on this boy do I feel GOOD!
My problem was a loose nut

It wasn't the nut behind the wheel was it?

 

[Darthomas]

To me all caps just seems like reading teletype copy.

 

[69Runner]

still does not engage flywheel.

Take a picture of it maybe you have the wrong mini. I have put minis in 67 GTX and Charger 440 4-speeds and a Coronet 440 auto, and did not have the fitment issues you describe.