Starter problems PLEASE HELP!!

[jakeb157]

So after fixing a leaking radiator and a bad tensioner(headlights were dimming, thought it was alt. but after having it tested found out it was fine) i hooked my battery back up and with no key the car starts turning over and wouldnt stop until i disconnected the battery. Did that about 3 times and then it didnt do it again. So i started the car, it ran for about 2-3 minutes and then all of a sudden i can hear the starter trying to engage the flywheel. I assumed bad solenoid and took it to be rebuilt. They tell me that from what they can tell the starter is bad enough that i need a new one and that something else caused the damage to it. i was told to check the signal wire for constant power, to check a relay on the firewall bc sometimes it gets water and shorts out?, and to check my ignition switch. Does anyone have any input or ideas or be a little more specific on what to look for? Im kind of shooting blind on this one and i am down to just my gsxr1000 and its about 35 degrees in the morning here so any help is greatly appreciated!

[FordMan77]

Take a look at this thread and see if it helps at all. Not really a common issue from what I've seen.

http://www.grandprixforums.net/showt...arter+solenoid

[jakeb157]

The guy that checked out the started said that its real uncommon for the original starter to do what it did, being that it was the first one he had seen do what it did. With checking the signal wire i do have a multimeter to check it but i'm not sure where this relay is he is talking about and how to check that. Hopefully I get out of work early enough tomorrow to have daylight to check it. out

[FordMan77]

The relay should be in the fuse box on the pass side strut tower. Not sure which one it is. Owners manual should tell you if there is not a diagram under the lid. Should be another relay in there that is the same type you can swap around to see if this fixes the issue.

The relay on the firewall issue is more of a Ford thing since they had an external relay that often failed in this manner (been there several times with my 84 Vic). This isn't a common issue on these cars, but might not hurt to check it. Might want to remove the fuse block and check the underside for corrosion while you're at it.

[BillBoost37]

We haven't seen a lot of this.. please tell us year and model/engine that you drive. As we look/search it'll help out.

[jakeb157]

its a 1997 GTP with the 3.8 supercharged (ik you guys know this). thank you for the info on the relay and will fill everyone in on what i find. Could there be a short or bare wire somewhere that could case this? i have a feeling it might have something to do with the ignition from what ive seen on here and as far as i know its still the OE ignition (w/ 240k on it)

[jakeb157]

The relay looked fine and inside of the relay/fuse box was spotless and corrosion free.

[primem]

I've seen this occur on other brand of vehicles. It turned out to be the ignition switch. check for power out of the ignition switch. I see if I can get connector and wire colour info for you.

[primem]

if the problem only happens in park and neutral it most likely is an ignition switch issue. The trans range switch would open the circuit in any gear position but park and neutral

[primem]

with the car in park and the key in run; check for voltage on the yellow wire at the ignition switch. should be 0volts, leave the meter connected for a while because the voltage leakage is intermitant. The bad switch I tested has voltage leaking through and the voltage varied from 0, then up to 9volts back to 5v etc.