bluesharp

Okay, here's new one that I bet nobody's read before:

The other day, I went to start my SC300 5-speed with 140K miles. I momentarily turned the ignition key against the spring into the 'start' position. The engine started right up, but when I released the key, the starter CONTINUED TO CRANK the engine! It was clear the starter was being spun by the running engine. Thinking quickly, I removed the key from the ignition - yet the engine still CONTINUED TO CRANK! Shifting into emergency 'save my battery and starter' mode, I yanked open the hood and pulled the negative cable from the battery, and then waited a few minutes. When I reconnected the battery cable, everything seemed normal, so I tried starting the engine - and that started normally, too. That was three days ago, and the car's been fine since.

My question: It this definitely the starter solenoid getting stuck in the 'on' position, or could it be something simpler, like the starter relay or even the ignition switch?

dreyfus

Well, that's a scary scenario!

It could possibly be the relay or ignition, but 9.9 times out of 10 it's the selenoid that's causing the trouble.

mitsuguy

iTrader: (2)

or 99 times out of 100... whichever you want to hear more...

but, yes, i concur - you've got a starter solenoid sticking, go get you a new/rebuilt one and slap her in there...

chances are you'll never be able to duplicate it when you want to, so getting it diagnosed would be next to impossible...

vietstuh

i ran into this problem yesterday. except i removed my negative battery terminal for an hour and then i reconnected it and it just started to crank again nonstop.. going out to buy another starter today. anybody happen to have any starter DIY's?