3B starter stuck engaged?

[amaurer]

A strange thing just happened; I started my BJ42 and there was a LOUD noise coming from the left side of the engine. I only got down the block before I was sure something was wrong and I shut it off.

When I shut it off there was a long, ::whurrrrrrrr:: as something spun itself down after the engine was stopped.

I couldn't start the car again as the battery was dead (I have a weak battery to begin with, so this isn't shocking).

I think the starter somehow got stuck engaged, anyone ever heard of that happening? I figure the whirring after I shut the car off was the starter spinning itself down.

I wonder, could this be a symptom of a low battery? I noticed from playing with my starter that it engages (pops out) whenever its spun; is there a solenoid that kicks it back in that perhaps didn't have enough juice?

EDIT: See last post, I'm an idiot and my ignition switch is just worn.

[Canuck]

I had a similar issue with the starter on my BJ74. Would start the truck and there would be a loud whirring sound coming from the starter and then stopped. Drove the truck home, started it again and the whirring came back along with some smoke. Reversed the truck and some molten metal dropped out from under the truck. Truck wouldn't start after that lol. Needless to say I needed a new starter as something in the original one had shorted and cased part of the aluminum casing to melt. Not saying this is what will happen to you but best to have it looked at before you get stranded somewhere.

[amaurer]

Thankfully I didn't see any smoke, and I felt the starter and it was warm but not hot, so with luck I escaped the molten-pool-of-whatever effect that you experienced.

When I stopped the truck I was stranded uphill, so while there wasn't enough juice to turn it over, I did try rolling backwards down the hill, and popping the clutch while trying to start. Once I got it spiining like that the starter did give me two lackluster revs before getting tired. I'm hoping that means its not dead...........

Battery is charging as we speak.

[code 621]

I had this happen in my '84 bj 60 a few years ago...a few sharp taps on the solenoid(sp?) made it stop and never return.

[amaurer]

I charged the battery and tried it again, same thing! I applied BFH to the solenoid before and while running, no change.

So what do I do now?! I guess the starter has to come out, but what in there causes this behavior?

[cruiser_guy]

Open up the solenoid switch and replace the contacts and plunger. Part numbers are in the part number thread. The plunger and contact are probably welded together.

[_Walker_]

Sounds like the Bendix isn't disengaging...

[amaurer]

Originally Posted by cruiser_guy

Open up the solenoid switch and replace the contacts and plunger. Part numbers are in the part number thread. The plunger and contact are probably welded together.

Starter contacts: Wilson 45-29-6522 less than $10
Plunger: Wilson 45-29-6452 $12

Is there a toyota equivalent?

[cruiser_guy]

Originally Posted by amaurer

Is there a toyota equivalent?

There might be if your Toyota parts guy is with it. When I needed it, the dealer in Cranbrook (across the road from Lordco) said that they had no parts for it AND none were available aftermarket either. I walked across the street to lordco and picked up the parts noted! They were in the parts books at Lordco.

[amaurer]

I got it open, it didn't seem to be welded in place, im confused!

WHat do you think?

[amaurer]

I will now change the title of this thread to "Idiot owner cannot operate ignition switch correctly".

Turns out my ignition switch is worn and needs to be turned back a little past the click to disengage the starter. I'm retarded.

Thanks for the help everyone.

[cruiser_guy]

Before you put the starter together you may want to change or clean the contactors anyways. The top one looks like it has some crap on it. Usually it'll be a little ball of copper.

[amaurer]

Originally Posted by cruiser_guy

Before you put the starter together you may want to change or clean the contactors anyways. The top one looks like it has some crap on it. Usually it'll be a little ball of copper.

Done done. The long center spring had some crud on it that looked like old grease, so I cleaned it and gave it a new light coat of high temp grease.

There weren't any burrs or raised areas on the contacts, so I'm not worried, but I used a drill to spin the plunger against the contacts to sorta wear them all together. Worked great.