Starter won't disengage

[Billsboat]

So a few weeks back I was having issues with starting my truck. Turned key and everything died...got a bit of clicking from starter I think. Turned on head lights to see if batt was dead. No lights. Checked charge, it was good. Cleaned batt terminals and connection to starter relay. Everything worked, started right up. Week or so later same thing. Got new starter relay. At first I put in in the same as the old one. That was wrong because when I tried to start it the starter kept running, even with key in "off". Had to quickly disconnect batt. Looked up wireing diagram and have it hooked up right now I think. Now what it is doing is when I turn the key to "on" starter kicks on and stays on. It will stop when key is in "off"

So the question is, did I mess up the starter relay when I first put it in wrong, and am I also having and issue with the ignition switch as well...or could that have been the problem all along?

Thanks for any wisdom here!

 

[DirtDonk]

Disconnect the small Brown wire from what should be the "I" terminal on the relay. Then try again.

What year is your EB?
What type of starter?

Paul

 

[DirtDonk]

I shot that out to you so you would have a quick place to start. Here is a further rundown of possibilities.
As far as I know, the only things that can cause a starter to run on are:

1. Defective relay. Don't rule out a new one, because this happens ALL THE TIME these days!
2. Wires swapped on the small terminals. Red w/blue should be on the "S" stud, and Brown should be on the "I" stud.
3. Defective/stuck ignition switch not letting go.

Because yours is cranking with the key in the "RUN" position and not even waiting for you to turn it to "START", then it's either the ignition switch, a fault in the Red w/blue wire so it's getting voltage from another source, OR, the wires were put on the relay backwards.

It's not always the installers fault however (well, it is, but that's not the point... ) because there are some relay designs that have reversed connectors. They're kind of "upside down" relays, so when you put them in the original orientation it's easy to get the wires reversed.
But if your new one has little letters next to the studs, look for the S and I and see what wires are on them.

Paul

 

[alphamale]

I had a selenoid and a resistor go bad at the same time. Kept replacing the selenoud and not the resistor and selenoid kept burning up. Had the same problem. I changed the selenoid and the resistor ogetther and the issue went away. Never figured out what caused it but when I swapped out the old parts it stopped. I dont have a lot of mechanical exerience and less electrical so Im not offering advice just informing you of my similar scenario.

 

[Billsboat]

Paul thanks for u r help! So I had the brown switched with the red blue. Witch makes me think I may have had it right the first time. Anyway I have it the way you've said and have removed the brown. Tried starting, and nothing happened, no clicking, no nothing. Hooked everything back up and the same thing...nothing happens.

 

[Billsboat]

Alphamale thanks for u r input. Paul what do u think about changing resistor too?

 

[alphamale]

I think maybe I wired it backwards the first time and it could have burnt out the resistor and it was just bk and forth until I replaced them bith or vice versa. Who knows....

 

[Billsboat]

Oh and btw, the first relay was upside down, so not being that knolagable I messed up I'm pretty sure when installing the new one

 

[Billsboat]

Alphamale, what year is yours?

 

[Pa PITT]

... no wrong it's the wrong solenoid .. I've bowed up several battery .. and killed some ignitions systems .. GET THE correct solenoids...

 

[alphamale]

Its a 72'

 

[phillipmhampton]

try this

not a pro but had same problem while addressing wiring issues. fix was to disconnect starter at solenoid hook up battery then turn key switch to start. then disconnect battery reconnect starter at solenoid. somehow reset the solenoid. like is said not a pro but worked for me.

 

[Billsboat]

Papitt, how do u know witch one is the right one. I of course got the one I have from auto parts store. I tell them the year motor make, give them money, they hand me a part...

 

[alphamale]

The difficlt part is when they ask you what yr/make/model and then theybsay is that 6cy or 302 and then you say "no its a 351w". They almost always dont know what to give you!

 

[Pa PITT]

Now read all this may. help you get it fixed.
.......
I don't know how to tell you if you've got the wrong one and as you said .. You just tell them . I need one for my ?? year Bronco.
... This is what was happening to us at my parts store every now & again . For for about 20 years most all used the same solenoid. But some didn't .. Seems like that common number was SS581 Std Ign .
............
. I told the customers to put the solenoid on but to pull the Positive cable off.
Now put the Battery cable back on but just setting on the post . Even better if you have 2 people. Now start you Vehicle . If it starts and you can kill it with the key your good to go. Tighten up your battery cable now .
But if it won't kill with the key. Or if the starter keep starting Then you have the wrong solenoid. Jump out real fast & yank the cable off the battery . Or get you friend to yank it off .
.. Over 300,000 miles we Blew up 3 battery's and fried my cable once on my own 1980 300cid .
...3 batery's was when I 1st bought it an had no clue what I had .. Cables was I had a shop replacing a starter just a day or 2 before we went to New Mexico hunting .
I put on a killer big battery & new 1 O cables and new starter & solenoid. I told that shop but they didn't believe me ..
.. They burned up My big cable Ruined the Battey an burnt up their brand new Snap ON CUT OFF PLIERS MELTED them down before they got it shut down.
.. OWNER CALLED ME & Said bring all that stuff again . & Charge it to him.
.. He said I thought you were so wrong . He'd never seen it before .

 

[alphamale]

Thanks for the info!

 

[Billsboat]

So here is the out come... At least for my situation. The first step is not to be as inept as I am. As a result of having no skill I reversed it two wires on the small posts. ( I think paul had suggested this might be the case) last night I put them the way they should be, but at first nothing happend, (relay was not mounter to fender) that is to say starter would not work...no clicking, no nothing. This morning, with a fresh start, I remounted relay to fender, and gave it, the starter relay, a good rap with a screwdriver handle, turned the key and all works as it should!

So I'm kinda left wondering, 1- how did I not burn anything out hooking thing up backwards, 2- does the relay need to b grounded, and thats why it did not work last night, or did I free up the relay this morning by rapping with the screwdriver?

Anyway, thank you all for your input, I could not have done it with out your information!

 

[Jdgephar]

1- reversing the two wires means the start wire from the ignition switch was essentially connected to nothing (it's an open contact until the relay is turned on). No damage done to anything, and also no start.

2- the relay needs to be grounded to operate, which is through the bolt that connects it to the fender.

 

[Pa PITT]

.. Yes I say that not having it mounted down saved you . Those are a grounded Base.

 

[Billsboat]

This is sutch a good forum...I learn a lot! Thanks for you information jdgephar and papitt. U gotta love dumb luck, cause that seems to be the only way I did not fry things