starter wont stop running!

Sorry for the two threads. When I added to this one, I noticed that the last entry for it was in 2001 and I thought that no one would notice it. That is why I created a new one. Again, sorry. As for the question. Yes, the solenoid is attached to the engine fire wall. Looking straight at it while mounted, it has the battery lead to the left along with three wires coming from the wire loom on the firewall, 2 red and one looks black. Then, to the right it has the one large cable/wire to the starter. In the middle, it has one green and one green/white wire to the little terminals in the middle. I will go out and try the troubleshooting tips. Thank you for your suggestions.

[IN2DEEP]

That's odd.... I had the same question as Jim..... ford type or not.... so I went to ebay and found a pic of a 87 yj starter.... it had the solenoid right on the side.... thus.. I thought the mechanics of the solenoid my be hanging up the starter........ hmmmm..... I guess you can't trust ebay.... who would imagine?

..... or is this because the yj began in 87??... maybe some have the old solenoid, some have the starter mounted ones?

I tried it again. When the engine was running and the starter stayed engaged, I removed the battery ground. Without tapping the solenoid, I touched the ground cable to the battery and got sparks. I then tapped the solenoid and tried the cable again. No sparks or starter engagement. Attempted to restart the engine, and again the starter stayed engaged. I tapped both the starter and the solenoid while running and it seemed that the starter eventually disengaged and quieted down. Pulling either middle wire off of the solenoid didn't stop the starter. From the tips you gave, I think that the solenoid is bad even though it is brand new. I am going to replace it. Also, if you look on Autozones' site, starter # DL3209, this is my starter. I have found out over the years that the model Wrangler I have is the red headed stepchild of the YJ's. My YJ also has the Puegot BA/10-5 transmission which was only used for a short while. Go figure. Thanks again for your help and suggestions.

Just a quick question. Does anyone know what the three other wires are that attach to the battery side of the solenoid? They come out of the 2" wire loom. Again, thanks for your suggestions Jim_Lou and IN2DEEP.

[Jim_Lou]

One comes from the alternator, another is the main power feed to the fuse box. They should both be pretty stout - probably 10 gauge. I don't know what the third might be.

From your description it really does sound like a bad solenoid that's sticking closed. Get one from a Jeep dealer or NAPA, not Autozome. Many people on the board have complained about the quality of Autozone electrical parts and rebuilt parts.

[Pete88YJ]

Man, it's interesting to see what you wrote 7 years ago.

FWIW, my 88YJ has the solenoid on the starter. I've replaced it. Basically the solenoid energizes, and there's a high-currrent switch at the back of the solenoid, so when the solenoid energizes, it shifts the gear out to the flywheel, and the high-current switch closes, and the power goes to the starter motor. I've had the soldenoid go bad, filled with water, mud, whatever, and the solenoid would click, but the high-current switch wouldn't pass current. Latest one I put on I sealed up with some RTV, and it seems fine.

BUT, 87 was a changeover year, not sure what they had then.

Good luck
Pete

Well, I picked up a new starter solenoid from NAPA and not AutoZone. Once installed, I started it up and the starter again seemed to spin or sounded like it was still spinning for about two to three seconds. It definitely did not sound as bad as it did with the last solenoid. Do you think that the starter might be going bad, where it stays engaged or maybe something from the ignition malfunctioning? Could the ignition switch cause this delayed disengagement of the starter? As I stated before, I have changed out the distributor/coil to a one wire HEI set up. Again, as before, thank you for your suggestions and tips. They are well appreciated.

[IN2DEEP]

The starter motor works pretty much independently of everything else.

The solenoid is just a switch. Or a big relay. It uses a small amount of electricity to make contact between the two heavy duty cables on the solenoid. Sending electricity to the starter motor.

All the starter does is spin. It's either on or off. Nothing else. Pretty simple.

The typical problem with the solenoid is that after a while, carbon builds up, or the contacts get distorted, and the don't want to let go, after making a connection. So it continues to send electricity to the Starter.... and the starter continues to spin (it's "on"). When you whack the solenoid with something it jars the contacts loose, and they return to the OPEN position, turning the starter "off".

So to make a long story, longer. I don't think it's anything other than the starter and the solenoid. That system is fairly short and simple. Either it's working or not. And your's sounds as if it's working.

One thing to consider, is there is a gear on the end of the starter. When the starter spins, it "throws" this gear (it's called a bendix) into the flywheel of the engine. When it engages, and everything is working right, it turns the engine over to get things started. Once the engine is running, power is turned off for the starter and the bendix should return to it's resting position. So while I don't think your starter is "going bad", I think something may be interferring with this function of the starter.

A simple check is to pull/replace the starter. I'm assuming that it's not a $600 starter, and you don't mind replacing it. You could pull it, see if there is anything obviously hanging the starter up. But it's pretty simple to replace. And if you've pulled it to check it out..... you've already done half the work. Swap it out... and move on to your next issue.

[DoubleClutcher]

According to one manual I have which covers up to 1999, only "earlier" Jeeps used the Bendix type starter engagement system. The later ones used a Delco type where the solenoid actuates a shifting fork to engage the starter geat to the flywheel, and then a contact is closed to turn on the starter. These can stick and leave the starter engaged.

By the way if the starter is remaining engaged it won't last long if you rev up the engine. With the starter to flywheel gear ratio the starter would rev to extreme rpm's and throw it's windings.

[jdoggmoney]

I have seen once or twice where the ingnition clinder in the column or switch underneath were all gummed up and didn't release or return like they should, letting the starter stay engaged for a very short time after you let off the key. If this were the case I would think you would be able to feel the sluggishness as you turn the key, but it may be worth checking.