s14 starter engages with key in the off position

[blueballa]

i got a 95 s14, i pulled the motor out to put in new gaskets and timing components. when i put the motor all back together and touched the battery cables back on the battery, the starter engages and proceeds to crank over the motor. the key is on the off position, even out of the ignition.

the car is a manual from the factory, has factory alarm but it seems the previous owner installed another aftermarket alarm. has s*** subwoofer wiring done. i have disconnected the alarm stuff and checked the ignition wires under the steering column for shortages, they are looking good.

one thing i noticed is the ignition key doesnt rotate nicely, i have to wiggle it a lot and it will eventually move from off to the acc position.

[frapjap]

It sounds like the ignition thinks the key is already on, or always on, or you have a constant power source somewhere. A new ignition in the column might help, or disassemble it to see if you can see what is working and isn't when you have the key inserted and no inserted.

Admittedly, I'm not very good with questions like this, but post a link to this thread here:
the-i-m-new-here-and-i-have-a-simple-qu ... -1680.html
and you'll get a much better answer.

[blueballa]

Ok so I did some more testing with a multimeter, at the starter cable (not from the battery) it shows 12v. Is this correct? Also I checked for continuity from the ignition switch to the starter wire and there wasn't any, meaning there is a break in the wire? I pulled off wire to the starter that goes to the ignition switch and connected the battery terminal and it still cranks!!! How is this possible?!?

[frapjap]

Sounds like a good start!
I wish I could help you more, but that exceeds my general knowledge on 240's.
Make a post in the thread I linked to you in the previous post and the moderator there will be able to help you out with much more expertise.

[the converted]

The starter cable should have 12v. There are two terminals on the starter solenoid, one for power in to it, and then another for power out to the starter itself. Is it possible that you connected it to the output terminal accidentally?

[blueballa]

No, the lower wiring harness is on perfectly. the cable that goes to the ignition switch or the starter solenoid, Should that show 12v's? Why is it cranking if that ignition wire is disconnected?

I noticed that the battery is only grounded to the motor and not the chassi, could that be why?

And why can't I find continuity between the wires behind the ignition switch to the single wire on the starter?

It can't be the starter, I'll ground the battery cable to the chassi and block like the oem one and replace the ignition switch.

[sainifabulous]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpROo5M ... [youtube]0[/youtube]

[the converted]

It's possible that the lack of a chassis ground is doing that, so that's probably a good place to start since you'll want it anyway. If that doesn't fix it then see if it continues to do the same thing if you unplug the smaller gauge wire that goes to it.

You're not getting continuity because there is a relay for the starter. That relay goes to the smaller gauge wire which controls the solenoid on the starter to complete the circuit.

[blueballa]

Ok I figured it out. It was the starter solenoid. The starter sat around for a while, so I'm guessing it just went bad. Problem fixed. Thanks guys.