Funny Starter Problem.

[andy57]

Small body late starter seemed to be seized, spinning over, but not engaging.

Took starter off and found if I apply 12V to the the main terminal on the solenoid, nothing happens. Power to the thinnest terminal on the solenoid causes the motor to spin, but doesn’t engage the pinion, the middle sized terminal engages the pinion, but nothing else!

The power for the starter is supplied via the largest terminal? And if I put power to this terminal, the motor should spin? And if it doesn't, the motor has a internal wiring fault?

Isn't the thinnest terminal meant to supply power to the unloader relay, not power the motor?

Starter is less then 10 starts old! But over a year old and out of warranty!

And can anyone recommend a supplier for starters, don't fancy going back to the people who sold me this one!

Thanks

[Brianmoooore]

All the above is exactly as it should be.
Connect power to the big and medium terminal at the same time to operate the starter.

[andy57]

Yup, realized what I've done!

But why would it fail in service?

[HairyScreech]

i would suspect the power feeds to the motor long before deciding the motor had gone.
what makes you think it is toast?

[andy57]

Don't know that it is toast, just wondering how to test it.

It has stopped starting the car.

[HairyScreech]

First things to check would be that you are getting power to the motor, one terminal is always live (the non solinoid one) and the solenoid one is switched, the solenoid acts as the relay to cut in the high current.

[andy57]

Tested the motor properly on the bench and the solenoid works as it should, the motor spins away, but the teeth don't turn.

Seems like the clutch on the pinion has died.

I've fitted a S/H starter today, the dead one is 8 months old and been used about 20 times, the car was off the road for a rebuild. What's the chances of me getting my money back from ECP, slim or no chance!

Thanks for the advice.