Starter cranks without key in ignition - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Your41Plague12 · 02-26-2012, 10:04 PM

Ok guys, here's one for you. Every once in a while, although it's happening more frequently now, I'll turn my key to start my truck and with the engine running or not, my starter keeps turning. I can turn the key and shut the engine off but the starter keeps turning. It does this even with the key out of the ignition! Is this just a bad ignition switch? Or is it something starter related? It works fine 95% of the time, but every once in a while I'll have to go out, pop my hood, and disconnect the battery. This is really frustrating. The engine is a crate 350, the tranny is a TH400, and the starter is GM with a recently replaced solenoid. I hope this has happened to someone and it's something simple. Thanks in advance!

Steve

big10ratrod77 · 02-26-2012, 10:11 PM

man the 400 small block in my k10 does the exact same thing! and i havent fixed it so i wanna know also. ive heard you can shim the started and it would help i just havent had the time to try it

Your41Plague12 · 02-26-2012, 10:18 PM

I've used the same starter in the prior two engines with the same exact transmission and NEVER needed to use a single shim. I hope this is simpler than it sounds, because it's starting to drive me nuts. I can't find any melted starter wires, so I don't know what to fix. 95% of the time, it works just fine and I don't know what to check because it's unpredictable.

big10ratrod77 · 02-26-2012, 10:24 PM

mine will do it every time but what i did was tune up the ole 400 realy good and put a 1000 CCA battery in it so it spins over fast and fires up quick... but thats just avioding the real problem

Your41Plague12 · 02-26-2012, 10:28 PM

Mine fires up really quick too. But even when it fires up, the starter keeps turning and grinding. It only does this once in a while so I don't know what to check.

frydaddys87 · 02-26-2012, 10:44 PM

my buddies truck done this and it turned out to be a burnt wire on the starter

Wrecked1982 · 02-26-2012, 10:56 PM

+1 on the burnt wire or starter contact temporaily welds up.ive seen it happend but on a toyota..

Your41Plague12 · 02-26-2012, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrecked1982

+1 on the burnt wire or starter contact temporaily welds up.ive seen it happend but on a toyota..

What do you mean the starter contact temporarily welds up? I'll look at it when it's light and see if any wires melted. I don't think they did, they were routed nicely. But then again, I've been wrong plenty of times with this darn thing.

csb#356 · 02-27-2012, 01:52 AM

It sounds like the contact disc in the solenoid is arcing and welding itself to the terminals. I would pull the solenoid apart and see what the contact disc looks like. It will be obvious if thats what is happening. Weak batteries can cause this. Maybe the return spring has malfunctioned in some way.

02-26-2012, 10:04 PM	#1
Your41Plague12 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,009	Starter cranks without key in ignition Ok guys, here's one for you. Every once in a while, although it's happening more frequently now, I'll turn my key to start my truck and with the engine running or not, my starter keeps turning. I can turn the key and shut the engine off but the starter keeps turning. It does this even with the key out of the ignition! Is this just a bad ignition switch? Or is it something starter related? It works fine 95% of the time, but every once in a while I'll have to go out, pop my hood, and disconnect the battery. This is really frustrating. The engine is a crate 350, the tranny is a TH400, and the starter is GM with a recently replaced solenoid. I hope this has happened to someone and it's something simple. Thanks in advance! Steve __________________ Steve Member of the Foot Pedal Club '83 Chevy K20: 6" Rough Country, 3" Performance Accessories BL, Bushwacker Cutouts, 38x15.50 Mickey Thompson Baja Claws, 350 HP 350 crate engine from Jegs, Turbo 400

02-26-2012, 10:11 PM	#2
big10ratrod77 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: hillborough nc Posts: 410	Re: Starter cranks without key in ignition man the 400 small block in my k10 does the exact same thing! and i havent fixed it so i wanna know also. ive heard you can shim the started and it would help i just havent had the time to try it __________________ 77 chevy BIG 10 350/sm465/12bolt w 3.73 bout 240 horse power NO power steerin 79 chevy 1/2 ton 250/three on the tree/3.08s soon to get built 250/floor shift conversion/3.08s 81 mercedes 300d 25 MPG 77 chevy BIG DOOLEY 454/sm-465/14 bolt 4.10s "fully loaded" 73 plymouth duster 225 slant six/230 3 speed/8 1/4 trying to acheve 300 horse six http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3135091 '77 chevy trucks. built to stay tough. life is short build a hot rod

02-26-2012, 10:24 PM	#4
big10ratrod77 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: hillborough nc Posts: 410	Re: Starter cranks without key in ignition mine will do it every time but what i did was tune up the ole 400 realy good and put a 1000 CCA battery in it so it spins over fast and fires up quick... but thats just avioding the real problem __________________ 77 chevy BIG 10 350/sm465/12bolt w 3.73 bout 240 horse power NO power steerin 79 chevy 1/2 ton 250/three on the tree/3.08s soon to get built 250/floor shift conversion/3.08s 81 mercedes 300d 25 MPG 77 chevy BIG DOOLEY 454/sm-465/14 bolt 4.10s "fully loaded" 73 plymouth duster 225 slant six/230 3 speed/8 1/4 trying to acheve 300 horse six http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3135091 '77 chevy trucks. built to stay tough. life is short build a hot rod

02-26-2012, 10:28 PM	#5
Your41Plague12 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,009	Re: Starter cranks without key in ignition Mine fires up really quick too. But even when it fires up, the starter keeps turning and grinding. It only does this once in a while so I don't know what to check. __________________ Steve Member of the Foot Pedal Club '83 Chevy K20: 6" Rough Country, 3" Performance Accessories BL, Bushwacker Cutouts, 38x15.50 Mickey Thompson Baja Claws, 350 HP 350 crate engine from Jegs, Turbo 400

02-26-2012, 10:44 PM	#6
frydaddys87 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: maysville n.c Posts: 56	Re: Starter cranks without key in ignition my buddies truck done this and it turned out to be a burnt wire on the starter __________________ i beat tires till they scream for life while the others watch. 2010 nissan titan. wifes truck 1979 dodge magnum e58 police package. wifes baby 1987 chevy short bed. daddys play toy 2002 stratus wifes d.d 2001 dodge 2500 cummins loaded. daddys work truck

02-26-2012, 10:18 PM	#3
Your41Plague12 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,009	Re: Starter cranks without key in ignition I've used the same starter in the prior two engines with the same exact transmission and NEVER needed to use a single shim. I hope this is simpler than it sounds, because it's starting to drive me nuts. I can't find any melted starter wires, so I don't know what to fix. 95% of the time, it works just fine and I don't know what to check because it's unpredictable. __________________ Steve Member of the Foot Pedal Club '83 Chevy K20: 6" Rough Country, 3" Performance Accessories BL, Bushwacker Cutouts, 38x15.50 Mickey Thompson Baja Claws, 350 HP 350 crate engine from Jegs, Turbo 400

02-26-2012, 10:56 PM	#7
Wrecked1982 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Cold Canada Posts: 310	Re: Starter cranks without key in ignition +1 on the burnt wire or starter contact temporaily welds up.ive seen it happend but on a toyota..

02-27-2012, 01:52 AM	#9
csb#356 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Pinehurst, Idaho Posts: 311	Re: Starter cranks without key in ignition It sounds like the contact disc in the solenoid is arcing and welding itself to the terminals. I would pull the solenoid apart and see what the contact disc looks like. It will be obvious if thats what is happening. Weak batteries can cause this. Maybe the return spring has malfunctioned in some way.



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.