Here's a new one - smoked the starter?

KidVermicious

KidVermicious

New member
So apparently my ignition gets sticky when it's cold. I pulled into my driveway just now and heard a most unwelcome growling coming from the engine bay - left the motor on, popped the hood, saw smoke coming from the starter and shut it down real quick. It still works, the motor started again right away with no complaints and everything appears to be working fine, but smoke is never good. Anybody had this happen before? What sort of long term damage am I likely to have done here?

I guess I need schooled on exactly how the starter works. I know it engages the flywheel, but what happens when the starter motor is turning while the motor is running? I'm worried that I've damaged the bendix gear or flywheel teeth?
 
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When you turn the key, the bendix comes out and engages the flywheel, then after you release the key, it pulls back into the starter. It shouldn't be staying in contact with the flywheel.
 
Hyde802 said:
then after you release the key, it pulls back into the starter.
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Right, but in this case the spring return inside the ignition failed and didn't return the key from the Start position to the On position. I drove about five blocks, I'd guess, with the motor running and the starter still cranking.
 
Well huh. See if you can put the smoke back in....

Smokekit2.jpg
 
I can't recall the switch sticking, but I've seen a few starters hang. Usually does it after it's been doing the "click but not turn over" act for a while.
 
Remove it and load test it. You may have other contributors yer not tell us, like Oil all
over it commin down from top!
Invest in a few fire extinquishers for yor waggin!
 
bills86e said:
Invest in a few fire extinquishers for yor waggin!
Click to expand...

As a firefighter, I cannot tell you as to how important that is! It can literally save your whip from being written off. Make sure its capable of handling an A, but most importantly, a B and C fire.



Hyde802,
that picture had me laughing so hard I was coughing. Cool call my friend
 
The magic smoke is never good to see. Hard to believe you didn't hear it when it stayed engaged while driving. Cause with any other vehicle i know of once the engine is running and the starter is engaged it makes a hell of a ruckus. ;) but the may be after the starter has disengaged and then reengaged. May be a different sound when it never disengages.

First thing i would do would rebuild the steering column with the necessary pieces only way to know is tear it down and inspect. I would change the starter once you have the steering column working properly. Or if you don't want to replace the starter at least take it down and inspect for damage.
 
Releasing the Smoke Genie is never a good thing. You need to isolate the damage asap before something really bad happens!

:gossip:
 
It did it again this morning. It didn't do the grindy thing like happens when you bump the starter one too many times - the only reason I noticed it was a faint whirring and the check engine light stayed on.

So I'm going to operate under the theory that the starter gear is smart enough to retract once the motor is started. The starter appears to be no worse for wear, apparently there's still enough smoke left in it to get the job done though I'll replace/rebuild it when the weather warms up anyway. I'm also going to clean out and relube that farking ignition switch.
 
KidVermicious said:
It did it again this morning. It didn't do the grindy thing like happens when you bump the starter one too many times - the only reason I noticed it was a faint whirring and the check engine light stayed on.

So I'm going to operate under the theory that the starter gear is smart enough to retract once the motor is started. The starter appears to be no worse for wear, apparently there's still enough smoke left in it to get the job done though I'll replace/rebuild it when the weather warms up anyway. I'm also going to clean out and relube that farking ignition switch.
Click to expand...

no, it wont retract. not if the bendix is being supplied power. well, and not while its working properly.

I just imagine running it with it engaged cant be good on the gears.
likely you got the case so hot, it was cooking off any crud/oil/whatever off the outside, hence the smoke.
 
mine is doing this now as well .. I just did the "relay" fix ..
starter stays engaged for a few seconds , and check engine light is on and a distinct "miss idle" .. starter disengages and all is fine .
it only happens the FIRST start in the morning , and ONLY if freezing ?

I might try pulling the starter and giving it a good cleaning and lube

.
 
Hyde802 said:
Dont do that!

Good luck cleaning out the ignition, I bet its just dirty but, sounds like a push button ignition would solve this.
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Good call. You could mount it to the headliner right above the windshield and have to reach up like a fighter jet. :50cal:
 
slacker said:
mine is doing this now as well .. I just did the "relay" fix ..
starter stays engaged for a few seconds , and check engine light is on and a distinct "miss idle" .. starter disengages and all is fine .
it only happens the FIRST start in the morning , and ONLY if freezing ?

I might try pulling the starter and giving it a good cleaning and lube

.
Click to expand...

Mine's definitely trouble in the ignition switch, slacker. I have to manually rotate the key back from the Crank position, it's stopped doing it on it's own. Hopelessly gummed up or a worn out spring return, is my guess.

Does yours keep cranking even after the key rotates back to the On position? If that's the case, I'd suspect that relay you put in before I suspected the starter.
 
KidVermicious said:
Mine's definitely trouble in the ignition switch, slacker. I have to manually rotate the key back from the Crank position, it's stopped doing it on it's own. Hopelessly gummed up or a worn out spring return, is my guess.

Does yours keep cranking even after the key rotates back to the On position? If that's the case, I'd suspect that relay you put in before I suspected the starter.
Click to expand...

your key is probably worn out anyway, just replace the switch.
 
KidVermicious said:
Mine's definitely trouble in the ignition switch, slacker. I have to manually rotate the key back from the Crank position, it's stopped doing it on it's own. Hopelessly gummed up or a worn out spring return, is my guess.

Does yours keep cranking even after the key rotates back to the On position? If that's the case, I'd suspect that relay you put in before I suspected the starter.
Click to expand...

I didn't actually add a relay , as mine is an /86 and already had the relay . I put the direct 12V to the relay fix.
My ignition cyl is a little sticky , but even if I manually turn it back , the starter still stays engaged for a second or 2


.
 
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