My troubles began with a shifter (B&M Mega) that didn't want to go into R from P when the car was running (had to go P-D-R) but worked just fine w/ the car was off. Weird.
Then, it acted like there was no juice getting to the ignition when I turned the key (lights up, gagues jump but no juice). I figured it was the neutral safty switch (since they shop that did my tranny did the shifter too...and they screwed everything up w/ the tranny, figured that was a good place to start). one wire had worked its way loose from the microswitch (easy..since they cut the wires too damn short). When I put it back on, the car would turn over but it would engage the starter right as you turned the car to accy not all the way (like to kick on the fans/dummy lights). it wouldn't shut off if you let go, it was just grinding the starter. Took the wires off the switch, and jumpered them together to bypass the whole damn thing. Starter started grinding real hard. Sounds like taking a pencil and sticking it in a fan... a rapid thud thud thud. I tried it a few times, thinking I just has a bad connection of the wires but still got the same thing. it would get a good 1 turn over in sometimes in all the thudding.


Is the solinoid toast? What's up with the car locking me out of R when the motor is running but not when its off?


HELP!



BlackBowTie

 

Man, you're in a world of hurt, aren't you?

You might have a dead soleoid but you've got bigger problems- wiring. The starter solenoid takes its cues from the ignition switch. If the switch is in the acc or even the run position and the starter is kicking on you've got wiring or ignition switch problems.

First thing I'd check is the wires as they connect to the starter- there are several small ones plus, of course, the big one from the battery. The small wires can sometimes get hooked up to the wrong posts and then weird stuff starts happening like this.

After that I'd try a new ignition switch.

After that I'd give up and take it to a dealership. Wiring is time consuming and frustrating even if you have a good set of wiring diagrams.

If the starter is grinding its more likely that the teeth are ground off the starter spur gear or the flywheel/flexplate. Or maybe the bolts have just worked loose and the starter isn't up tight against the block. If the solenoid wasn't working the spur gear wouldn't kick out and the starter would just free spin when you hit the juice.