motor noise

[jeffzm]

This has only happened twice and can't figure iy out. I have a 78 sc, I turn key to start car and it does not turn over but a loud motor/pump noise starts and doesn't turn off even when key is out of ignition. Only way it stops is disconnect battery, the first time I reconnected battery a couple time then it stopped. We were on our way to Monterey historics and 1000 mile trip never did it again until this a.m. and it won't stop this time.

Any input would be great, the sound seems to be on right side of engine.

[Targalid]

The noise continued with the battery disconnected? And you are unable to start the car?

[ben parrish]

Starter not engaging the bendix....bad solenoid. Have the starter rebuilt or replaced.

[jeffzm]

only way it stops is to disconnect battery. but instantly connect battery and it continues. Ben, bad starter? so solenoid continues even when your not turning it over ? now you mention it does sound like when first starting car. Thanks

[timmy2]

You may be able to disengage the solenoid for now by tapping the starter with a big hammer. Replacement is the logical choice.



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[COL 911]

Jeff, this just happened to me a week ago, for the second time since I had the car (8 yrs). Absolutely stuck starter solenoid or partially engaged (w/o starter gear engaging flywheel) starter motor.

You should be able to push start it, and if it is bad solenoid or starter, you should be able to shut off, reconnect negative and start it, as it may or may not land on the 'dead spot' if it has one, that next try. Or, as suggested, whack the starter solenoid.

My first time, mechanic diagnosed as bad starter, so I replaced - never did confirm old starter was bad. Now wiser, this second occurrence, disconnected neg battery cable, had it flat bedded home (830 at night, in dark shopping center not ideal workspace).
I didn't want to believe it was the starter, despite it being 6 years since replacing the last one, so I researched the posts here, and started to diagnose the most simple things.

I checked voltage at the battery (ok at 12.6v) and all battery grounds per Bentley manual, cleaning each and adding a smear of dielectric grease when I re-tightened. Negative battery terminal ground cable was particularly frayed, so I replaced with longer, 4 gauge cable from auto store, which allowed me a little more access to that front driver side ground, resulting in visibly cleaner, tighter attachments. In addition to the grounds in the trunk, I cleaned two more in the engine compartment and the transmission ground strap.

Reconnected the negative cable to the battery and it started right up-even seemed to run stronger. For what it's worth, the advice I've seen on this forum, start methodically and check the simple things before replacing components, has saved me a lot of money and helped me understand and respect the car a lot more than I ever thought I could. I'll bet it's your ground connections, rather than a bad starter/solenoid - you're getting juice to the starter, just not enough to fully engage due to the bad grounds. Good luck!

[jeffzm]

Thanks all for all the info. and details. My wife and I are doing the Targa Baja California end of October need to be sure the SC is all sorted prior. Thanks again, Jeff