short during starting

simplemind7 · 06-29-2006

i'm trying to get the last little bits done to my gt so i can get it running finally, i tried turning it over and after a few seconds of cranking the top terminal on the start solenoid starts smoking and the wire that goes to the fuse box (supposed to be a fusable link, but its just a regular wire for some reason) gets very hot. this only happens while cranking, if the key is turned to ignition everything works fine and the wire doesn't heat up. i tried figuring it out with a wiring diagram and probing around a bit but couldn't find out why it was doing that. has anyone had this happen to them before?

baronbors · 06-29-2006

What shape is your starter switch in? sounds bad

namba209 · 06-29-2006

Sounds like a bad solenoid or an internal short in the starter motor. But having the solenoid power lead from the ignition switch get hot appears to indicate a bad solenoid. HTH.

simplemind7 · 06-29-2006

well the starter still works 100% and cranks over the engine fine, could it still be the solenoid? and if so, could you explain why? i don't really understand how, but then again i don't know much about starters.

namba209 · 06-29-2006

Inside the solenoid is a large copper washer that impacts two copper contacts and a smaller contact for the coil during starting. What I suspect is there is an internal short in the solenoid windings that is not severe enuff to stop the solenoid from operating, but is causing the battery lead and ignition power leads to short inside the solenoid to ground.

simplemind7 · 06-30-2006

hm, alright. i'll try swapping my other starter motor in and see how that works then, thanks alot

baz · 06-30-2006

brendon check the main ground wires too just in case

simplemind7 · 06-30-2006

when i first saw it start to smoke the main ground was the first thing i checked and it wasn't the best but i cleaned it up and reattached it and the wire was still getting hot, i didn't let it crank long enough to smoke though.

06-29-2006	#1 (permalink)
simplemind7 Opel GT? Who makes that? Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ayr, Ontario, Canada Posts: 632	Unanswered: short during starting i'm trying to get the last little bits done to my gt so i can get it running finally, i tried turning it over and after a few seconds of cranking the top terminal on the start solenoid starts smoking and the wire that goes to the fuse box (supposed to be a fusable link, but its just a regular wire for some reason) gets very hot. this only happens while cranking, if the key is turned to ignition everything works fine and the wire doesn't heat up. i tried figuring it out with a wiring diagram and probing around a bit but couldn't find out why it was doing that. has anyone had this happen to them before? __________________ Brendan: 72 Manta Rallye 69 GT 72 GT - parts car

06-29-2006	#2 (permalink)
baronbors 1000 Post Club Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: League City Texas Posts: 1,117	What shape is your starter switch in? sounds bad __________________ Texas Opel Preservation Society

06-29-2006	#3 (permalink)
namba209 6,000 Post Club Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Imperial Beach, CA South of San Diego Posts: 6,054 Provided Answers: 6	Sounds like a bad solenoid or an internal short in the starter motor. But having the solenoid power lead from the ignition switch get hot appears to indicate a bad solenoid. HTH. __________________ Ron 72 GT 3.4L V-6/T-5/ZF posi - almost done - Just need AC installed. 75 Chevy monza 5.7L/TH350/Auburn 3.08 posi - Next

06-29-2006	#4 (permalink)
simplemind7 Opel GT? Who makes that? Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ayr, Ontario, Canada Posts: 632	well the starter still works 100% and cranks over the engine fine, could it still be the solenoid? and if so, could you explain why? i don't really understand how, but then again i don't know much about starters. __________________ Brendan: 72 Manta Rallye 69 GT 72 GT - parts car

06-29-2006	#5 (permalink)
namba209 6,000 Post Club Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Imperial Beach, CA South of San Diego Posts: 6,054 Provided Answers: 6	Inside the solenoid is a large copper washer that impacts two copper contacts and a smaller contact for the coil during starting. What I suspect is there is an internal short in the solenoid windings that is not severe enuff to stop the solenoid from operating, but is causing the battery lead and ignition power leads to short inside the solenoid to ground. __________________ Ron 72 GT 3.4L V-6/T-5/ZF posi - almost done - Just need AC installed. 75 Chevy monza 5.7L/TH350/Auburn 3.08 posi - Next

06-30-2006	#6 (permalink)
simplemind7 Opel GT? Who makes that? Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ayr, Ontario, Canada Posts: 632	hm, alright. i'll try swapping my other starter motor in and see how that works then, thanks alot __________________ Brendan: 72 Manta Rallye 69 GT 72 GT - parts car

06-30-2006	#7 (permalink)
baz opel free after 26 years Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: sunderland england Posts: 4,941 Real Name: barry williams Provided Answers: 4	brendon check the main ground wires too just in case __________________ Copyright © 2003-2009 barry williams All Rights Reserved save praying to God for sunday today we pray to Nike and run like hell

06-30-2006	#8 (permalink)
simplemind7 Opel GT? Who makes that? Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ayr, Ontario, Canada Posts: 632	when i first saw it start to smoke the main ground was the first thing i checked and it wasn't the best but i cleaned it up and reattached it and the wire was still getting hot, i didn't let it crank long enough to smoke though. __________________ Brendan: 72 Manta Rallye 69 GT 72 GT - parts car

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