Hello all. I need some help surprise surprise

 

Here are the symptoms. Lets start from the battery being disconnected. I connect the battery and everything looks normal. I turn the key to the start position and the car starts...but it does not stop starting. Even when i turn the key off and take it out it continues to try and start until i disconnect the battery....It does this every time without fail. Also before this was happening i was having intermittent issues with the car not starting at all I would turn the key and it would click,....click....click 5 or 6 times and then start normally.

 

When it was having the clicky issue i made sure the ground strap was good and secure, and tried another starter.

 

I just got finished replacing the starter interlock relay...and the relay the alarm has in the starting system and the symptoms have not changed.

 

My best guess is the ignition switch? Or maybe the starter is getting stuck on...What would you all guess? And if i replace the ignition switch do i need to have a new key?

 

Thanks all

I'd suspect your starter solenoid is sticking.

Yep it sounds like it. Maybe you could hook a voltmeter to the terminal on the starter that actually triggers it (not the fat wire from the battery), then switch ignition to start, and you should see like 12V at that terminal while ignition switch is in start position, but it should go to like 0V when ignition switch is returned to run or some other position.

 

If you still have 12V at that terminal even after ignition switch is no longer in start, then something's wrong upstream of the starter. If the voltage at that terminal returns to 0V when ignition switch is no longer in start but the starter keeps cranking, then something in the starter (i.e. starter solenoid) is sticking (which is the more likely problem probably since you said it 'resets' if battery is disconnected).

 

I had this happen unexpectedly on '91 ford escort (those ones with the bad ignition switches) years ago and it nearly caught the car on fire i mean there was smoke pouring out of the starter like crazy 'cause i couldn't get battery cable off in time.

yeah i am gonna try that same trick with the multimeter. I did measure just the switch itself with an ohmmeter and it seemed to be working fine...but i will check it with the signal wire and then get a new starter

 

 

Thanks for your help guys

It was the starter. Thanks again