starter motor not disengaging.

ozzimark · Post by **ozzimark** » 11 Jun 2004, 08:30

ok, so i turn on the car, and it starts just fine. but it keeps cranking. i pulled the starter motor to see if the gear was sitcky or something, but it's fine. so start looking for electrical problems. i started the car, and disconnected the wire to the solenoid, the starter disengages. so i look around in the wiring harness looking for shorts, but can't really find any. my dad and i suspect the alternater doing something wonky to keep the car starting after the key returns to the run position. do any of you guys know any common problems that would cause this kind of strange behaviour?

LaRy · Post by **LaRy** » 12 Jun 2004, 14:39

You did not tell if it is a 240, 740 or 940, but the feeding is coming straight from the ignition-lock key switch, connection 50. From there it is going to the switch in the automatic shift handle to check that you are not in drive position. Feeding is then continouing to the solenoid in the starter. In 740 the car is sometimes "borrowing" this starting information to tell some other components that start is going on.
I would disconnect the wire connected to the key-switch connection number 50 (probably pink colour), have the key in drive position and start the car by connecting the loose pink wire to 12 volt. If it works good, change the ignition lock.
The alternator is definitely involved. The only thing they have in common is that the power cable from the alternator is connected to the starter, and from the starter the cable is going to battery + pole.

ozzimark · Post by **ozzimark** » 12 Jun 2004, 20:17

oh yeah, sorry. i have a 1985 volvo 740 gle. i'll have a look at that when i get a chance, thanks

LaRy · Post by **LaRy** » 13 Jun 2004, 13:28

Oh yeah, I'm sorry too. The alternator is definitely NOT involved in the starter problem you have. I forgotten to write "NOT"

ozzimark · Post by **ozzimark** » 13 Jun 2004, 20:09

yeah, well i got it fixed today. turns out that some wires were connecting (the insulation is really bad...), and one that supplied voltage only when the engine is running was touching the solenoid's wire. so i ran a new one outside of the wire harness... and now it works