Starter gets stuck...87 Ford Taurus
 

The starter on my 87 Ford Taurus gets stuck in the on position when I start it sometimes. I have to jump out and disconnect the positve battery cable so it doesn't drain the battery power.

The car actually starts but the starter seems to think it should keep trying to start the car non stop. The starter was put on (brand new) in November 06.
Also the ignition switch was put on at the same time.

The second day after the new starter was put on...it started doing this.

This is so irritating! How can I fix this problem? Thank you so much for any responses to this problem.
Sissy

RE: Starter gets stuck...87 Ford Taurus
 

Since you didn't mention why you had the old Starter replaced in November, I am going to assume that the old starter wasn't doing what this one is doing???

Normally,a defective(Soleniod-Switch) causes the problem you are now having with your Starter. It attaches to outside housing of the starter (where the wiring connects to the starter). It can be replaced seperatly without having to get a whole starter unit.

As for your Starter being basically new, it is still possible that it could have been a defect at the time of purchase.

RE: Starter gets stuck...87 Ford Taurus
 

Hi dukesport
Thank you for replying. Back in November I had the starter replaced because it had totally went out on me.
This morning when the starter hung up it ran my battery down to nothing before I could get to the battery to disconnect the positive cable.
I have the battery charged up now but...the car is dead silent...it won't even try to make a noise when I turn the ignition switch.
Thank you for letting me know it could be the solenoid switch. I assume that is much cheaper than a whole starter.
I hope the mechanic didn't put a defective starter on the car back in November.
Sissy

RE: Starter gets stuck...87 Ford Taurus
 

Considering what happen today, there is now a good chance that you may need to replace the whole starter once more (the starter drive-gear is now mostlikely to be damaged).
Either way, the starter would need to be removed in order to replace the Soloeniod-Switch; once the starter is out, the Drive-Gear can be easyly seen for any sort of damage to it(signs of chewing/chipping of the metal).
Yes, a Soleniod-Switch is much less in price than the a whole starter, but the labor cost would be around the same price of having a whole starter installed.
I strongly suggest that you have the whole starter replaced at this point.

RE: Starter gets stuck...87 Ford Taurus
 

I tried tapping on the solenoid so it will release and start the car. It won't release ...so far. Do you know how I can make it release?
I guess that is the solenoid switch on the fenderweld? I followed the positive battery cable to the little black box like the auto parts store told me.

The auto parts store told me to get it down there so they can take a look and show me how to change the solenoid. They will also be able to tell if the starter is totally gone now.
I sure hope it is not damaged.

RE: Starter gets stuck...87 Ford Taurus
 

At this point, I would strongly assume, that the electric components within the soleniod are fried....thus tapping on it it won't get you anywhere.

Yes, on most Fords, the soleniod is located on the passenger-side of the feneder-well where the battey positive cable connects (its very easy to replace.....just disconnect one wire from the old one at a time as you installed it onto a new one...the body of the soleniod is removed by the screws holding it to the fender-well.
So, replace the soleniod first and then see what happens before doing anything else.

RE: Starter gets stuck...87 Ford Taurus
 

Well...I have the new solenoid in place. All the lights come on inside the car but the new solenoid does not attempt to start the car. Just tap tap tap as I turn the key. The tapping is coming from the solenoid.
I put it on exactly as the old one was on but nothing is happening but the tapping.
Whatshould my next move be?

RE: Starter gets stuck...87 Ford Taurus
 

Asumming that the battery is truely fully charged (for sure), and that all the wiring on the new Soleniod-Switch are properly tighten, then mostlikelythe Starter is shot.....mostlikely because the Drive-Gear has gotton jammed-up with the Transmission Fly-Wheel; this properly happen when it kept turning-over for a while because you couldn't get battery cable disconnected quickly.
At this point, have the Starter removed and checked out at the store you contacted earlier today. And while the Starter is out, look into the opening where it goes into the transmission housing.... you will seethe fly-wheel discwhich have outer spockets/teeth allaround it; if any of the teeth appear very damaged/chewed-up (then it could bea whole new MAJOR ball game as it relates to time, effort, and cost...and in such condition,it could end up damaging any new starter that you have installed sooner or later orfrom thefirst attempted start-up of the engine).

RE: Starter gets stuck...87 Ford Taurus
 

The gear drives in the starter are junk. Sorry, I missed writing earlier. They're modeled after the GMC (Garbage Motor Company) starters which are the eternal pain where it didn't hurt. Originally, years back, Ford starters had two bolts and one wire and the solenoid was internal and easy to deal with (even repairable). What you have is likely a gear-reduction starter which is supposed to be lighter. Truthfully they stopped making the old Ford type starters becuse they were too easy (they said it was heavier - but I'd rather have the easier with an extra half-pound). I can swap an old type in a maximum of 5 minutes. You've seen the new ones. What a pain in the neck.

RE: Starter gets stuck...87 Ford Taurus
 

By the way your solution now is to see if you can buy just a starter or return the solenoid and get a whole assembly.