I have a 2002 Honda Accord LE sedan with 120,000+ miles on it. I recently had my starter replaced because the car wasn't starting and it wasn't the battery. When I replaced the starter, the car started right away. I had the same problem happen today when leaving work, but it started after trying to start the car a few times. When I got home, I noticed a noise and when I opened the hood, I heard the starter still going, or I think it's the starter. It eventually stopped but when I put the key in the ignition, it started again. I didn't even turn the key in the ignition, the starter also started smoking this this time. Is the problem common and what can I do for it?

This is a video of it:
Also, my brake light keeps turning on, what can I do to stop that?

 

Replace the brake bulbs for the light*

As far as the starter going it sounds like the relay is almost stuck open, that or the starter solenoid. But considering its obviously not making contact with the torque converter there is definitely something wrong with it. Unless you managed to break teeth off your torque converter. Make sure all your contacts are good and clean. Definitely don't keep running it though!

 

I'm not so sure these cars have a starter relay. I would suspect the starter is bad.

For the brake light coming on(this assumes it's the brake lights at the back of your car since you don't give any details as to which brake lights exactly you are referring to ), sounds like your brake switch(located at the brake pedal) is going bad.

 

The typical starter motor has four main parts.

• Electro-magnet solenoid
• Bendix drive
• Electical switch(to turn on motor)
• Electric motor

*In the above image the 'Bendix' drive is called a 'overrunning clutch assembly'.*

When the key is turned to 'Start' a circuit is completed which powers the solenoids coil, inside the coil is a spring loaded piston which does two things. One it moves(via linkage or directly) the bendix(small gear) drive which then engages the teeth of the flywheel/torque converter. When the teeth are meshed together and as the piston inside the solenoid comes to the end of its travel it physically closes a spring loaded switch. This switch is what turns on the starter motor to spin the engine.

If there is a problem with any of these components the starter assembly will not work properly.

A sticking solenoid can either not move(you will hear a buzzing) or jam when actuated(causing the starter to stay turned on and engaged to the engine).

Broken linkage or Bendix drive will cause the starter motor to spin without physically engaging the engine. What you will hear is the starter spin but the engine does not crank when you turn the key. Or it will hang up on the flywheel teeth and not disengage from the engine.

A faulty switch will either not close the starter motor switch and you will only hear a clicking when the solenoid/bendix engage(this also happens when battery power is low and cannot turn the starter motor while engaged to the engine). Or if the switch sticks after the solenoid drops out, the bendix and solenod will return to their 'off' status but the starter motor will spin freely without engaging the engine. This will be heard as the motor just spining, even with the key removed from ignition.

Bad brush(es) or winding(s) will simply not provide current to allow the armature to spin.

Sticking or grinding gears can also be attributed to misalignment, or shim requirement.


As for the brake lights, verify that the brake light switch is not broken or out of adjustment.


Part #3 & #31 are the brake light switch and nut. Some models have a cap over the end of the switch that pops off and does not allow enough travel to contact the brake pedal when it returns up. Verify that part #9 is present and attached, it is the brake pedal return spring.

 

Also, I'd like to note the brake light is coming on inside the car while I drive it, I don't know if the brake light outside is turning also when the inside brake light signal pops up

 

The burnt out bulb warning light or the lamp for when the parking brake is still engaged?