Main IndexAuto Repair Home Search Posts SEARCH
POSTS
Who's Online WHO'S
ONLINE
Log in LOG
IN









Search Auto Parts

Starter Solenoid Not Working - HELP!


  Email This Post



MongoMF
New User

May 19, 2018, 11:59 AM

Post #1 of 6 (1157 views)
Starter Solenoid Not Working - HELP! Sign In

Situation: Starter from 350 SBC not engaging - Delco Remy MT10
While testing on the car it was determined that power was reaching the "S" terminal on the solenoid when turning the ignition key to start; however, no power to the starter motor and no "click".
With these findings I purchased a new solenoid. The starter/solenoid is now on the bench with the new solenoid installed but essentially the same problem - the solenoid doesn't engage/move the plunger and bendix linkage.The starter motor isn't connected while this testing is done...however, the starter motor does run if power is directly connected to the motor.
With the solenoid removed from the starter, it will operate and pull the linkage plunger but not without moving the plunger assembly closer to the solenoid by hand...this presents as if there isn't sufficient magnetic pull from the solenoid. However, the old solenoid and two other new ones act the same - functions with help when apart from the starter but when assembled no movement of the linkage.

With the return spring removed from the solenoid and reassembled to the starter, it draws the plunger in as expected under normal conditions and the bendix moves. Of course the return must be done by hand. Note: there is no binding in the bendix linkage - moves back forth by hand without any noticeable issues.

Considering this could be a low amperage power source situation during the bench testing, the solenoid test was done on my daily ride with fully charged battery and using jumper cables to make the connection to the solenoid while testing - same results.
In addition, three different plunger return springs were used...results all the same.
Nothing is making sense. HELP!


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

May 19, 2018, 12:09 PM

Post #2 of 6 (1149 views)
Re: Starter Solenoid Not Working - HELP! Sign In

And this is why we don't replace new solenoids on old staters. We replace the whole starter and you don't have these issues and waste the money you just spent on a solenoid.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



MongoMF
New User

May 19, 2018, 12:57 PM

Post #3 of 6 (1144 views)
Re: Starter Solenoid Not Working - HELP! Sign In

I cannot disagree with your approach IF paying for the mechanics labor and most likely, short of any assistance on this forum, may finally take that step. However, given the initial findings, testing, and the problem determination effort I'm driven by a desire to better understand what may have been overlooked in this situation given that I believe all the correct steps were taken to a correct determination and repair.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

May 19, 2018, 1:04 PM

Post #4 of 6 (1140 views)
Re: Starter Solenoid Not Working - HELP! Sign In

If you're sure your battery cable has no voltage drop and the engine is grounded properly, it can only be internal starter issues.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



MongoMF
New User

May 19, 2018, 7:17 PM

Post #5 of 6 (1103 views)
Re: Starter Solenoid Not Working - HELP! Sign In

As so often the case, when something doesn't make sense you're doing something wrong and that is the case here.

There are two coils in the solenoid, one to draw in the plunger and the other to hold the plunger. The draw coil requires a path to ground (-) from the solenoids large (+) connection to the starter motor; when the solenoid is operated, then the hold coil keeps the plunger in place and with (+) now flowing through the solenoid the starter motor operates.

Testing previously performed was only testing the "hold" coil; as such, no plunger draw. With a fresh and correct understanding of the starter/solenoid electrical circuit the solenoid testing results are as expected.


This new found understanding will be helpful if the original problem returns, no starter or click after the starter is heated up by the headers. The electrical circuit through the starter motor to ground most likely will be found to be open.
The video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cBtG5-SZFg was helpful in understanding this process.


(This post was edited by MongoMF on May 19, 2018, 7:18 PM)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

May 19, 2018, 7:23 PM

Post #6 of 6 (1097 views)
Re: Starter Solenoid Not Working - HELP! Sign In

That's why we never test them separately. It is much smarter to deal in whole starters. If the solenoid is shot, the rest of the starter isn't far behind.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







  Email This Post
 
 


Feed Button




Search for (options) Privacy Sitemap