Starter Solenoids

Morning All...

Is it possible or does it happen often that the starter solenoid shorts out while fording? What makes them go bad? Do I have an option of a water proof one? I have an original starter and someone has placed a new solenoid on it as it is bright and shinny....

So many questions, so little time! :?

 

Short circuits, really? During fording?

Fresh water is actually a poor conductor, so I might doubt that.
Or do you mean it stops functioning some time after fording? Corrosion from moisture inside could do that.

 

I did some fording, nothing to submerge the distributor,,,now she just sits there and 'clicks' when I try to turn her over...? Sounds like someone I know!

 

You could try a jumper across the two large terminals of the solenoid - see if the starter cranks. If not, the problem is elsewhere. Keep it in neutral!

 

It should not crank when I use a jumper?

 

Your F-head starter (if original) will have a water tight solenoid. If the solenoid is clicking after fording then the problem is most likely inside the starter. As said above by Pete L, try a heavy gauge wire across the two big terminals on the solenoid (tranny in neutral) and see if the starter will crank the engine. If not then the problem is with the starter providing you have proper voltage/amperage to the starter.

 

Thanks, the solenoid has been previously replaced on an original starter. I can get my hands on a BWD brand solenoid for 39 bucks but am not sure if this brand is what I should use due to the conditions that she will be put through...I know she's not a submarine but hey, if she can't go through some muddy water without problems, what good is she? After all, she can't cook, clean or do the laundry.... I'll check the voltage to the starter. Are these auto stores selling waterproof solenoids?

 

The saddle mounted solenoids that bolt onto the top of the starter as well as the fender mounted solenoids are usually hermetically sealed (water proof) and the solenoid that could possibly take in water would be the one found on the Toyota starter that can be adapted to the F-head.

 

Thanks everyone. It has been raining all day with no end in sight while she sits "dead in the water" so to speak on the side of my house. If it quits raining I'll put a voltage tester on her and see what she's made of. It just may be the starter but I would be guessing at this point. That would be a shame as there is a jeep club meeting tomorrow night just a few blocks from where I live...lol

 

I don't know about the 4 cyl but on my V6 I recently took the starter and the solenoid apart to clean and inspect.

If you can get it apart you may be able to figure it out.

Doesn't a "click" usually mean the battery is low? Have you checked the battery?

 

No. The click means the solenoid is energizing only. However if the solenoid chatters then that is usually due low battery. If the starter has a problem and draws no current (bad brush connection-open field wires-open armature etc) the solenoid will still click.

 

I am getting 12 volts from the battery however, I am getting 12 volts all of the time regardless of what the ignition switch does....??? Bad ignition switch??? and did it cause me other problems??? The more I think about it, it may have been the way I was testing it...:

With the battery connected & the ignition switch off, I attached the positive lead of the volt meter to the positive (battery) lead of the solenoid then grounded the other volt meter lead. It zipped right to 12-15 volts. Turning the ignition switch made no difference in the reading....?

As you can tell, my electrical engineering knowledge is limited to the point that I may know what I am doing at times...

 

That only tells you the voltage, not the current (amps) available. A starter needs huge amperage. But it confirms the battery is probably not dead.

A more useful test is to see if the voltage is being applied on the output (starter) side of the solenoid when you turn the key to 'start.' If not, the solenoid is suspect.

I would still do the jumper test we mentioned above.

 

Agree with above, jump (bypass) the solenoid. turn the key on and it should crank over and start when you jump it. You just need about a 3" piece of wire to jump it.

 

There is considerable power involved. Prepare for some sparking.

Use heavy wire such as a set of jump starting cables - or the handles of a pair of pliers will work well.

 

I just jumped the solenoid with the key 'on' and nothing happened. Is it time to pull and R&R the starter now?

 

Sounds likely. Starter may just need brushes and a polishing of the commutator.

One final test I would do would be to jump power direct from the battery positive terminal, direct to the starter terminal. That will by-pass any possible faults in the wiring between battery and starter.

 

Thanks for all the info everyone. I'll pull the starter a get it over to a place here in Ocala and have them look at it. In the mean time, I will play with the problematic carburetor and pull the spacers from the fuel pump. Why have these spacers to begin with?

 

Check your cable connections to the battery. Both negative and positive terminals and also where they connect to the starter and the block.

One click sounds like a really dead battery to me. A good solid "Thunk!" would indicate that the starter might be jammed. Stick the Jeep in gear and rock it back and forth real hard.
Then stick it in neutral and try to start it again.

 

I tried the rock & roll method in order to un jam the starter..if it was. The starter is just not energizing to throw out the gears to the flywheel. I've pulled the starter and will run it over to a local shop that specializes in these critters to see what needs to be done.