Replaced starter solenoid now my lights flash!

rvogster · 03-19-2003

My starter was staying on after the car started. So on advise from many people I went and got a starter solenoid and swaped it in. I fired up the car and the solenoid hadn't solved the problem and it appears to have given me a new one. Now whenever I open a door or shut my hood my caution lights and all the lights inside my car start to flash. Its a slow and steady flash and I here my console click on and off. I guess it sounds like a short somewhere but I dont know where to check. If I leave it sit a while it eventually stops flashing but will start again as soon as I open a door. If I turn the power on the car acts normal but the flashing continues. Any ideas before I go get robbed by a mechanic? Please help!!

maxxxxd · 03-19-2003

You need to replace the starter! The bendix is stuck in the flywheel and will keep giving you problems. The high-torque starter is known for this! I've replaced mine at least a dozen times! I think you might've hooked up something incorrectly at the solenoid.. Do oyu have an alarm that flashes the lights??? If so, what kind of alarm? What year is your car?

rvogster · 03-19-2003

Car is a 92. No I dont have an alarm. Ok, I was pretty sure I was going to have to replace the starter. Can I use an autozone or Oreillys starter or should I order a good one from summit? I dont know how I could have hooked something up wrong. I took everything off and put everything back on. If anything happend then I didn't put all the wires on the post twoards the rear of the car in the same order but that shouldnt affect anything anyway right? I guess I can yank it back off tommorow and maybe clean everything good and slap it back together.

Mad Max · 03-19-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by maxxxxd
You need to replace the starter! The bendix is stuck in the flywheel and will keep giving you problems. The high-torque starter is known for this!

Explane that one.

maxxxxd · 03-19-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Mad Max
Explane that one.

I was told that when you start your car, the juice goes to the starter, it kicks out a gear and grabs the flywheel and turns the car over. On the hi-torque starter, the "bendix" gear (not sure if that's what it's called), doesn't retract and the car continues to try to turn over, even if has started already. You can pull the key out of the ignition and it will still keep going... It's a strange happening. It almost gave me a heart attack the first time!

rvogster
I would get a decent one from the dealer or Ford Speed Shop. I haven't heard anything about any others... There might be a better one by now. On the wire issue, you might've tugged something loose or have a short in one of the wires right under the starter solenoid... Check immediate area and underneath...

rvogster · 03-20-2003

Ok, I feel kind of dumb. I guess my car does have a security system. Its a Ford Vehicle Security System but I dont know how to do anything with it besides reset it. So I will be replacing the starter this weekend and hopefully everything will be good again.

maxxxxd · 03-20-2003

After you replace the starter. Yank out the Ford alarm and get a real alarm. There's probably something wrong with it. (the alarm that is!)

Good luck to ya! Make sure you disconnect the battery before changing the starter... I was in a hurry one day and HELLLLOOO...

rvogster · 03-20-2003

I dont know that much about alarms. What all does it consist of? Just the stuff under the stearing column?

I talked to the local ford dealer and they want $175 for a new starter. That seems high to me for a stock replacement. Summit has a Ford Racing starter for $160. I am going to find out what brand of start the Oreillys has in town here and if it sounds decent I might just get one from them.

I will make sure to remember to disconnect it. Leaving it on sounds like it could be quite a suprise.

maxxxxd · 03-21-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by rvogster
I dont know that much about alarms. What all does it consist of? Just the stuff under the stearing column?

I talked to the local ford dealer and they want $175 for a new starter. That seems high to me for a stock replacement. Summit has a Ford Racing starter for $160. I am going to find out what brand of start the Oreillys has in town here and if it sounds decent I might just get one from them.

I will make sure to remember to disconnect it. Leaving it on sounds like it could be quite a suprise.

Yup. Do it once and you remember it for awhile! I still have "flash"backs.... zzzz zzzzz. yikes.

Most alarms are directly connected to the battery.
Find the connection and disconnect it. Some might have a battery backup... finding it is another story. If you have a new alarm put in, they can uninstall the factpry one for ya!

CYA

rvogster · 03-22-2003

Ok, slapped in the new starter and it seems to be working great. It was a real pain getting around my headers to get the top bolt out but im glad its working now.

maxxxxd · 03-22-2003

Yup. That top bolt is a major pain. Glad to hear everything's AOK again... Right on!

black88lx · 03-23-2003

Are you guys sure it could be the alarm? And if it is the alarm he shouldn't have to yank it out(unless he wants to upgrade) to fix the problem. Also the head lights will flash on and off when the switch goes bad.
As for your starter you probably have a business in your town that could rebuild it. they can also upgrade it with a torque kit that will make it stronger than original and should be cheaper than a new one.

maxxxxd · 03-23-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by black88lx
Are you guys sure it could be the alarm? And if it is the alarm he shouldn't have to yank it out(unless he wants to upgrade) to fix the problem. Also the head lights will flash on and off when the switch goes bad.
As for your starter you probably have a business in your town that could rebuild it. they can also upgrade it with a torque kit that will make it stronger than original and should be cheaper than a new one.

I am hoping that "rvogster" replaces the alarm with a better one, instead of disconnecting it having no alarm at all...

I have had experience with "rebuilt" starters and trying to fix it myself and trust me, it's better to just get a new one and do it once instead of several times or getting stuck somewhere without a hammer (and a jack) to smack the starter just to get one more place...

rvogster · 03-25-2003

I will eventually replace the alarm. Its not top on my list of mods though so when money allows I will replace it.

As for the starter, its already been replaced with a new one.

maxxxxd · 03-25-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by rvogster
I will eventually replace the alarm. Its not top on my list of mods though so when money allows I will replace it.

As for the starter, its already been replaced with a new one.

There's always a steering lock bar or something like that. How about a black panther with tinted windows? Kiddin! Watch out...Mustangs are quite easy to steal.