Electrical troubles

MountainHighMC · Post by **MountainHighMC** » Thu May 28, 2015 10:13 pm

Evenin gentlemen, having an issue with my starter running constant.
I've replaced the starter button as well as the start solenoid.
Had the wire from the ammeter to the ignition switch short out and my starter has been wanting to crank ever since!
Any help and or ideas would be appreciated
Regards

Bradley

AussieJD2010 · Post by **AussieJD2010** » Fri May 29, 2015 4:21 am

I'm no expert but perhaps the switch has fused a short when the wire shorted. I'm a tinkerer and I would disconnect the starter and try to find the fault before reconnecting it

Have you given the starter motor a tap with a small hammer?
Have you tried to just connect power to the starter motor?

Stan Disbrow · Post by **Stan Disbrow** » Fri May 29, 2015 4:36 am

Hi,

Yes, sounds like you now have constant power applied to the starter engage wire. Time to pull out the old multimeter and disconnect the battery and ohm things out.

You may not have cleared all points of short between the two wires along their common length. Once this happens at one point, usually from mechanical rubbing of insulation, the load causes the wires to heat and you can get other points where the insulation melts. And, more cross connection points.

The ohms setting will tell you. But, don't apply power to the meter when in ohms mode or the meter will quit working. Sometimes it blows an internal fuse. Sometimes it just fries. Just FYI... Don't ask me how I know that...

Stan

AussieJD2010 · Post by **AussieJD2010** » Fri May 29, 2015 6:05 am

I agree Stan.... there must have a wire or something else making connection to the starter motor....

let us know how you get on. good luck

MountainHighMC · Post by **MountainHighMC** » Fri May 29, 2015 9:29 am

Thanks for confirming my suspicions boy's, I'm on my way up to the farm with my multimeter now to find the fault.
I was wondering however if the starter motor itself could have failed internally but I can't see that happening.
She was running great all afternoon and then just came to a slow halt, I tried to turn er over but the battery was dead all of a sudden...
Tried a fresh battery and when connecting the ground away she went, immediately thought starter button but no dice.
Swapped out start solenoid for a new one, no dice
Eliminated ammeter from the equation, and going to bail into the wiring harness now...
Also this MC has been converted to 12 volt at one point in time and the "cut out" has been removed.
does anyone know where I could find a wiring schematic that is specific to a GM alternator by chance?
Thanks in advance
Regards

Bradley

jtrichard · Post by **jtrichard** » Fri May 29, 2015 9:36 am

I would start with pulling ALL the SMALL wires off the starter and hook up the main cable and see if it tries to crank if YES then you have contacts stuck in starter solenoid if NO then you have crossed wires as has been pointed out already....EDIT OOPS I should have said take small wires off the solenoid (thinking later starter with solenoid)

Stan Disbrow · Post by **Stan Disbrow** » Fri May 29, 2015 4:10 pm

Hi,

Yeah, conversions mean extra wiring and that can lead to extra issues. Only way is to meter it all out. Or, just pulling out the rats nest and redoing it. What I call the Shotgun Method.

Stan

MountainHighMC · Post by **MountainHighMC** » Sun May 31, 2015 11:09 am

Mornin all, well I'm kind of up against the wall here...
I removed the "start" lead from my starter solenoid (which is divorced from the starter) and still have power going to the starter motor, the solenoid is brand new from Napa so I can't see it being bad right out of the box but stranger things have happened I guess hey?...
I have removed the starter motor and have it on my bench now, from what I can tell there is not much wrong with the motor itself, brushes are in good shape, comm is not beat up at all, no evidence of internal shorts,
Just scratching my head now...

jtrichard · Post by **jtrichard** » Sun May 31, 2015 11:58 am

take all wires off of solenoid and check continuity across the large terminals (SHOULD HAVE NONE)

Stan Disbrow · Post by **Stan Disbrow** » Sun May 31, 2015 3:07 pm

Hi,

Sounds like the solenoid is stuck in the contact position.

All that is, is a relay. Batt power in one side, nothing out the other side. Apply power to the coil, and then contact is made across the two fat lugs and power is applied to the starter.

They sometimes get stuck so then power is always out to the starter. If so, then you need a new solenoid...

As JT says, check across the two fat studs...

Stan

AussieJD2010 · Post by **AussieJD2010** » Thu Jun 04, 2015 3:25 pm

Hi Bradley
Have you sorted out the starter yet?

You mentioned the solenoid was divorced from the starter...
How many terminals does the starter have?

MountainHighMC · Post by **MountainHighMC** » Tue Jun 09, 2015 12:35 am

Hey there, not as of yet no. Time seems to be scarce these days!
Yes the solenoid is separate from the starter, the starter motor itself has only one terminal.

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