starter runs with key out of ignition switch
 

'77 with 3.2 conversion. Recently, it's taken a couple re-twists of the ignition key to crank the starter. Snap diagnosis was to get rblt bosch starter. Installed the rblt. :mad: Still takes a few twists of the key. But then it did start, so hmmm...went for a short drive, returned home and shut off the engine. Tried to restart. I hear a whir sound but the engine isn't turning over. Took the key out - the whir continues. Had to disconnect the battery to shut off the starter. What the? Snap diagnosis is that the yellow wire to the relay is shorted to +12. Anyone heard of this? Are the rblt bosch starters good? Noticed they are smaller than the originals.

Easy to check the the yellow wire.. Sounds like you may have a stuck solenoid..

Often it's the chewed up ring gear teeth grabbing and holding the starter gear, which in turn keeps the solenoid contacts contacting.

If an out-of-the-box rblt is bad it is an unfortunate sign of the times.

If the starter gear is stuck in the flywheel wouldn't the engine be turning over? It's not. The starter is spinning on it's own.

remove the yellow wire from the starter and connect the battery.

i know, dumb question but did you connect the battery cable to the correct place.

If the wires are on right, must be a bad starter, or maybe the ignition switch is toast. If you get voltage at the yellow wire when it's off the starter, it's the switch.

Could be ignition switch. Same thing I suggested for the other thread regarding intermittent starting issues...squirt some WD40 into keyhole and work the switch by turning key several times to loosen up the parts. A very cheap first thing to try.