Starter motor won't stop cranking over....

**twiztd** · 14-07-2008, 02:41 AM

Hey guys, i'm in the need of a little help. The car is an MX83 Cressida with 7mgte conversion. Starter was working fine. Connected tacho booster as was needed for the engine. Cranked engine over and it started, tacho worked. Engine had a weird noise, shut it off and sorta worked out it was the starter not disengaging. Push started it, no starter noise at all... So, pulled relay for external fuel pump and cranked it over. Once i released the key (back to ON) the starter kept cranking... Oh, starter happened to die later on as well, so it got replaced with no effect...

So far I have tried
1) disconnecting the tach adaptor - same thing happened
2) bypassed the 'start' part of the barrel by using momentary button thinking that the internals may be getting stuck on 'start' - starer just kept on cranking...

Now, from what i can tell from the cressida wiring diagrams i have i cannot see any other relays or how this could happen. What else could i check to fix this problem?

Thanks in advance guys

Mike

**SL666** · 14-07-2008, 06:26 AM

Sounds like you have a latching condition on the starter solenoid.. somewhere you have a "if the car is running, this circuit is powered" wire thats connected into your starter wire...

- ECU trigger the starter? not using that wire to power/trigger anything else are you? something that could hold charge? (anything with a capacitor?)

**greatbuzup** · 17-07-2008, 12:04 AM

could just be a mechanical problem too. starter solenoids can get sticky. try tapping it with a hammer and see if it releases. Of course, "hit it with a hammer" is my fix for most things...

**twiztd** · 17-07-2008, 12:37 AM

Already tried that one... then replaced with a known working starter...

Guess i just gotta keep hunting through the wiring...

Mike

**oldcorollas** · 17-07-2008, 01:01 AM

check that the power that goes from the IGN to the starter solenoid doesn7t go anywhere else...
usually there is a relay that seperates the key from the solenoid.. so..
first, check that relay. (maybe you can check with a headlight globe as electrical load, instead of the starter?)
then check that power to switch that relay, turns off when you go from START to IGN.
perhaps the power for the ECU is feeding back into the solenoid relays power somehow?

or.. something is bent and not allowing the starter to retract?

**woggin** · 17-07-2008, 02:04 AM

possible short in the ignition barrel??

**wilbo666** · 17-07-2008, 08:52 PM

MX83 has a starter relay.

It is in the engine bay, battery side, near coil, it has a little rubber cover bit that goes over the relay.

It might be sticking...!

Cheers
Wilbo

**twiztd** · 23-07-2008, 12:22 AM

Cheers wilbo, will check that. Thing is, i tried to bypass the barrel with a momentary switch triggering ST1. So, once i had done this the starter would crank whenever i held in the momentary switch, but if the key was in the 'ON' position, once i released the switch it just kept cranking. If that info helps at all. Won't be able to play with the car til thursday or friday arvo... Will report back then. Thankyou for all the info thus far guys!!

Cheers

Mike

**oldcorollas** · 23-07-2008, 02:55 AM

Originally Posted by twiztd

. Thing is, i tried to bypass the barrel with a momentary switch triggering ST1. So, once i had done this the starter would crank whenever i held in the momentary switch, but if the key was in the 'ON' position, once i released the switch it just kept cranking.

so if you leave key in off position, and use momentary to crank, it doesn7t try to keep cranking?

sounds like it is Definitely in the ign switch/ if you can, open it up and clena out the contacts and check there is not some sliver of metal shorting it out. or something fallen out.. or one of the springs munched...