Ok - I admit, I have backyard mechanic in me... have a question

[Inchworm]

A while back I saved a good running from the crusher by figuring out brake systems and recieved a lot of help here.

And now...
Page TWO (in Paul Harvey voice)

Because it was a junker and I bought from a haul it to the crusher kind of guy... the entire steering column was ripped out to release the steering lock.

No worries, I thought. I just hotwired it. I eventually ended up buying toggle switches so it was easier to manage. The starter toggle kept burning up...

Sooooo... being an ex-carpenter I decided to goto Lowes and get a double switch and install it. Yes, a fixture with two light switches much like is on the bathroom wall. It worked well.

What good is a backyard mechanic with no dogs? I leave the dogs in the car as I go into grocery for beers, meat, cheese, and bread. When I come back out I notice that the starter light switch was in the on position. I hit the power up ignition switch and it does what it always does, dash lights come on and bells bing. I flip starter.. nothing.. almost seems like a dead short.

I take a sip of my RC and eat half a block of cheese while I consider my next move.

I reach for my big screwdriver, turn on ignition and dive in. I never really did know what I jumped at the solenoid to make the starter spin, but have been fairly lucky I guess. After a few sparks nd pokes ..varoooom.. starter works and I drive home. (thinking this morning I'd do the same in order to get to work)

This morning... same bzzt, sticky fire spark type thing the switch had the night before. I got a ride into and back home from work and am now researching to see wth I might can do with bailing wire and coathangers to fix it.

Best I can tell.. that jab of the screwdriver is actually bypassing the solenoid. The starter is making an attempt to go but isn't. I hear that metal to metal "choink" but it isn't pushing it enough.

I guess my question is...
Am I thinking correct? Can I assume that by the starter probably running nonstop while I was in the store it fried the solenoid? I seem to have juice, so may a simple charging of the battery make it to where bypassing the solenoid would work again?

What say ye?

:shrug:

:hi:

[Inchworm]

1. The big charge didn't work

Someone recommended that I beat the starter and solenoid with a hammer to unstick something.

It's 35 and raining. I'm warming up and back to it in a second :)

:hi:

[Inchworm]

2. Yay.. it's free and starting now

I still have to do it with a screwdriver underneath, but maybe it'll hold me off a bit so I can save for a better heap :D

:hi:

[krispos42]

3. The solenoid might have burnt out

Looks like maybe you were putting power to the solenoid with the ignition switch turned off. I imagine that with the ignition switch turned off but the starter turned on the solenoid threw the starter motor's gear out and into the flywheel but with the ignition switch turned off the starter motor didn't spin.

:shrug:

Just guessing here.


I would replace the starter toggle switch with a normally-open pushbutton switch. This way when you go to start the car you flip the ignition switch and press the starter button. No more accidents! :-)

[Kali]

4. I love the vision of a regular house light switch on your ride

sounds like a ranch vehicle to me.:woohoo: