Sticking Starter Solenoid

[luddite]

Hello
Here is my dilema.
89 Grand Marq Colony park wagon
I love this wagon, but this is the 3rd starter solenoid I had to replace in 2011. recap...
January. On road trip out of town- Turned key to start in morning,motor starts, but starter refuses to stop after key is turned to run position. Starter still refuses to stop after key is turned to off position. Due to ignorance and lack of tools on road trip, toasts starter solenoid and starter.

[87gtVIC]

Good that it killed off the starter because that was likely the original problem.

I fought this battle a couple of years ago. Replaced solenoid, replaced solenoid and the problem would still arise once and a while. Main problem was the starter. Been fine ever since 07 now.

[luddite]

Dang too early in the morning, hit wrong button.
Back to recap on sticking solenoid story.

Replace solenoid and starter. Everything is hunky-dory...fast forward to

Late October. Just another day until satarting the Merc when the starter keeps running after key out of start position and in run position. This time having presence of mind to quickly open hood and smack the solenoid with my leatherman knife. Starter motor shuts off, car keeps running, i go about my business. Around four or five starts later, starter sticks again, smack solenoid, starter stops. This procedure gets old fast. Replace starter solenoid with NAPA select solenoid... fast forward to

last Thursday, time to go home from work. Start Merc, starter keeps running, I smack the solenoid and the starter stops.
Battery- Optima red top, fully charged
Alternator-3G conversion

Maybe I can rig a little hammer on a lever and string into the cockpit to hit the solenoid when it sticks. I bet there is an easier solution though.

[luddite]

Okay, I had and have the older stype ford starter with the Bendix drive.
What year did FomoCo start using gear reduction starters in the Wiinsdor block? If I need to replace the starter again, at least I can replace it with something lighter , yet more efficient.

[GM_Guy]

Buy a solenoid from somewhere else since you essentially confirmed its the solenoid and not starter. Given the track record you've had with solenoids, I'd be inclined to visit the Ford parts counter first and pony up for a motorcraft unit. (Or maybe rockauto if they've got the genuine piece available).

Alex.

[87gtVIC]

Okay, I had and have the older stype ford starter with the Bendix drive.
What year did FomoCo start using gear reduction starters in the Wiinsdor block? If I need to replace the starter again, at least I can replace it with something lighter , yet more efficient.

http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthread.php?30250-Mini-starter-install

[gadget73]

90 or 91 got the small starter. It was a mid-year thing in 1990. Make sure the cable from solenoid to starter is good too. if thats not in good shape, you'll see higher current draw through the solenoid.

[classic87merc]

Having the same problem.

I keep replacing the solenoid and replaced the starter maybe September or October of 2011. I also replaced the battery. I could not start my car without someone giving me a jump or the old slapping the starter solenoid trick. I was going to change my alternator but since the problem stop after I changed starter solenoid I paid it no mine since I kept getting the alternator and battery checked I read that it was fine so that is not my problem plus I could not find the correct alternator which is a 3G. The battery was replaced several months ago and now I am thinking the battery is bad since I smell a terrible odor. So I used a battery I had lying around that came out of a ford taurus and still no start. When it tries to start it has low power and does not click so when I try to jump it now I believe I hear a click from the starter solenoid. I have went through 3-4 starter solenoids and the last time which was last week I replaced with the motorcraft brand. However, now I kept trying to crank and I smelt my starter solenoid burning on the ground side.

I'm lost I think I have a multiple problem like maybe my voltage regulator...would that cause a battery or starter solenoid to go bad?

I am going to start to replace the battery because I smell that is bad. Then I am gone work around to the voltage regulator.

[classic87merc]

also when it did start before this problem. The chime sounds low and the seat belt chime is low as well but I had just checked my fuses and only the heater fuse was blown which I already figured since the original had the heater bypassed.

[86VickyLX]

Have you replaced the cables yet?

[84merc951]

dont buy the napa one. same thing happend to me also

[86VickyLX]

Been running a 'standard' one for a few years. After a while they just tend to stick. Maybe I'll spring for a motorcraft one later...

[shorty]

Sounds like a bad starter. I know you said you replaced it already. Your starter is drawing too much current. I would have your starter checked out. It may only take for instance 100 cranking amps to start your car but if the starter is going bad it may require say 150-180 amps to start your car therefore putting a greater load on your solenoid.