For about a week I had been having problems starting the car. Sometimes it took 6+ turns to get the car started. The other day I turn the key and the starter engages, starts the engine, and doesn't disengage. I turn it off and take the key out, but it is still continuously starting the engine over and over. I had to remove the neg. batt. term. to get it to stop. I also had to drive on it with it engaged for a few blocks to get it out of traffic at which point it started smoking the starter motor....

I know I need a new starter, and it seems like there is a short circuit somewhere. Can anyone help out? My car is at the shop and they are having problems finding the cause of the starter still getting 12v when the key is out. I thought I would post in an attempt to save some time and money (labor) at the shop. Thanks.

I have a 1994 integra by the way, if it wasn't obvious by the name.

 

sounds like you have a short to power somewhere in your starter circut, you know the ground circut is good because when you remove it atthe neg term, its stops . so you need to trace the hot side of the circut, check terminals to see if there is power where there shouldnt be (without the key in start position). you are getting power somewhere on the hot side

 

Thanks for the quick reply. I talked to the technician and he says the fuse box under the hood had a short circuit or was fried somehow and needs to be replaced. The starter motor is also burned out as expected... hopefully that is all that needs replacing.

 

I also have a similar problem my starter keeps spinning even without the key in the ignition. It stops if I hit it with somthing. Could it be the starter or the flywheel maybe a short circuit also?

 

The car was stopped, then you turned it over, and it continually ran? That would be the pull in fork/contacts in the starter assembly. Sometimes hitting them or tapping them will cause the fork to retract. The fork itself has contacts that short the starter to B+, starting the car.

Unless you had a relay fuse its contact permanently or break and short internally, rule that out. Quite rare.

Why do you know you need a starter?

Unplug the S terminal wire and use a multimeter to test for 12V at this wire while cranking. As soon as you let go of the key, 12V should disappear. If these are you results, replace the starter and inspect/clean the connections when you replace it.

MODIFICATION: You talked about a relay being fried. Which one, and pictures of it would help immensly. That kind of thing doesn't happen everyday. I've seen many technicians sell the "Oh we have to run a new wire to the front of the car" trick too many times.