The four main reasons a starter stays engaged after releasing the key from the start position are: 1) Poor electrical connections, 2) Stuck starter solenoid, 3) Worn out pinion, and 4) Low battery voltage.
Some common causes of a starter staying engaged include an faulty ignition switch, faulty starter solenoid problems, a worn-out starter pinion, low battery voltage, a bad starter plunger or pinion, defective wiring or connection, flywheel damage, or a bad engine ground connection. To test for a stuck starter solenoid, follow these steps:
1. Test for a stuck starter solenoid by turning the key off and checking the current flow to the starter solenoid. If the solenoid is jammed, it may continue to maintain the starter’s engagement.
2. Replace a faulty starter solenoid by replacing the solenoid with a new one. If the solenoid is faulty, check the power on the posts behind the solenoid using a voltmeter.
3. If the starter won’t start when engaging the ignition process, it could be due to a problem with the starter motor or the starter circuit. If the starter doesn’t disengage after the engine starts, it may be due to a problem with the starter itself.
4. If the starter stays engaged after the engine starts, it could be due to a short overrun of the starter, a meshed together starter gear and flywheel teeth, or a faulty or stuck solenoid.
In summary, a stuck starter solenoid, faulty ignition switch, or a worn-out starter pinion can cause a starter to stay engaged even after the engine has started. It is crucial to address these issues promptly to prevent premature starter failures and ensure the safety of the vehicle.
📹 Starter Stays Engaged After Releasing the Key
Understanding the four main reasons a starter stays engaged after releasing the key from the start position and how to fix it.
Why does my solenoid keep getting stuck?
1. Problem: The valve is stuck open or closed. A solenoid is usually stuck open or closed because it loses power. If there’s no power to the coil or if power is interrupted, the solenoid will stop working and stay in the same position. If the power goes off, the valve can stick. It will stay that way even after you turn the power back on, so you have to reset it. Another reason for a solenoid to be open or closed is coil failure or burnout. Too much voltage can damage a coil, making the valve inoperable.
2. Problem: The valve opens without prompting. If your solenoid is always opening, it could affect the whole system. This problem is hard to diagnose because it depends on things near it. These include pressure against the valve or surges in the electrical circuit. To fix it, you need to check and test what’s causing the valve to open and adjust it.
What would cause a starter to not disengage?
Check your ignition switch. Make sure the power stays off after you release the ignition switch. If the starter gets too much power, it won’t disengage. Check the power on the posts behind the solenoid with a voltmeter to make sure it’s not the solenoid. It should be zero. If it shows you have power, your solenoid is probably stuck. This could be because of a faulty switch or a short in the cables. Switches can sometimes work intermittently.
Lastly, low voltage can also cause this. This may be due to bad wiring, bad connections, and a low or bad battery. If you still have the problem, take your starter off and have it tested.
What will cause a starter to stay engaged?
Starter for any damage. Inspect the starter circuit. And the power distribution. Check for shorts and make sure the ignition lock cylinder is working.
Can you jump a bad solenoid?
Together. Hear the bike start. Over you will see sparks. Make sure there’s no gas or fumes.
What would cause a starter to keep running?
This is usually due to a faulty solenoid. Get it fixed fast because it will ruin the starter and flywheel. If the engine won’t start, there’s another problem.
Why does my starter keep getting stuck?
- What should you do?. Youll need to inspect the starter to check several things. The first is whether or not the starter is bolted tightly to the motor or transmission. Bolts can come loose, and it doesnt take much movement to interfere with the gears meshing correctly.
- Another potential issue could be that the teeth on the starter or the ring gear may be damaged. Often an indicator of this is if the problem only happens occasionally, meaning there are good and bad spots on the gear, and sometimes it doesnt mesh.
- Lastly, the Bendix part of the starter can go bad, causing it to not push the smaller gear out with enough force to make it engage fully.
Solution: The starter motor spins, so it still works somewhat. This is typically a mechanical issue. A starter motor specialist should be able to rebuild the unit and replace the worn parts or tired Bendix. If, however, the ring gear on the flywheel is damaged, its going to be a gearbox-off job to fix it.
What are the symptoms of a bad alternator?
If your car alternator is bad, you might have trouble starting it, your engine might stall frequently, or you might hear a whining or screeching noise after it starts. You might also notice your lights are dim or bright, or you might smell burning rubber or wires. If your battery is dead, you might see a warning light on your dashboard. The alternator in your Honda car, truck, or SUV runs the electrical systems and recharges the battery after you start the vehicle. Can a car start with a bad alternator? If your alternator is dead, the car might start but will run on the battery. Can you jump-start a car with a bad alternator? You can sometimes jump-start a car with a bad alternator if the battery is charged enough. Replace the alternator as soon as possible. Learn more about running a car with a bad alternator in this guide from the experts at Weir Canyon Honda. What is an alternator and how does it work? Your car’s alternator is a small generator that runs off the belt or chain that controls the engine. This belt spins a copper and magnet assembly, turning it into an electromagnetic generator. The alternator powers your vehicle’s electric systems and keeps the battery charged. How do you know if your car alternator is broken? It’s hard to tell if your car has a bad alternator or battery. If you jump-start your car but it dies, you probably have a bad alternator. If your alternator is failing, you might see these signs:
How to tell if your starter solenoid is bad?
It doesn’t engage fully. Make full contact with the starter. Motor. This makes the engine work harder and slower. Electrical.
How to stop a starter motor from sticking?
If the starter is stuck, it’s broken. Use a crowbar to tap it lightly. This should free it. When it starts, replace the starter. Otherwise, it will keep getting stuck.
How to fix a stuck starter motor?
If the starter is stuck, it’s broken. Use a crowbar to tap it lightly. This should free it. When it starts, replace the starter. Otherwise, it will keep getting stuck.
Can a bad alternator destroy a starter?
A bad alternator will cause the starter to fail because there is not enough power to crank. The starter doesn’t usually fail the alternator.
📹 Car or Truck won’t stop cranking OR Doesn’t turn OFF (The Fix)
This is what to do if your car or truck won’t stop cranking or won’t turn off. This applies mainly to classic ford vehicles or those that …
I burned through 2 starters at autozone and 3 at o’reillys until I finally took it to a shop and he told me he had to call a friend who works at Ford Company and he told him that it was a wire but he would not tell me exactly wtf the problem was because he wanted to charge me another $625.00 if it did it again. I changed everything else from the alternator, solenoid, to fuses but I wish I would have changed the wire that connects the ignition to the battery to the starter as it was very doable. but thats how they charge you by keeping you in the dark about simple shit!! I like to thank you Sir for this article and trying to help people because money isnt easy to come by for some of us fa real..take care and peace
This is very odd.. I have a 89 f250 with a 91 f150 engine inside basically same configuration as stock f250 engine when it comes to solenoid, but same exact issues thing is I just replaced the solenoid because of a different issue, this started recently after taking apart my steering wheel column tilt to fix and I put back together exactly the same. My solenoid only has one wire that clips onto the solenoid(the one you disconnected to diagnose the solenoid) and it still cranks with that off. Perhaps I got a defective one?
I have a 70 chevy truck with the ford solenoid. My solenoid only has the s wire hooked up. When releasing the key back to the run position, it continues cranking. I have a coil cut off, so the engine wont start unless energized. By perusal your vid, my thought is the ignition switch is the culprit…Any thoughts before spending cash on a new switch ?
Got an 89 f-250 with the 460 and I have burned out 7 solenoids by now and one starter with this issue! Checked all wires for shorts or corrosion, I changed out the lock cylinder and pinion, ignition switch, new starter and solenoid and it started fine and ran for 3 days and the same thing happens at a clients house! Super embarrassing.. this has been an ongoing problem for 3 months now and I’m about ready to just let it burn all together lol. Just lost here now. Still working on finding the actual problem.