Matt306 Posted June 1, 2021 Share Posted June 1, 2021 Took my starter motor off tonfit new exhaust and cleaned the huge load of crud off it. I have now noticed a the screw down terminal connected to the battery is hot to touch . I presume the solenoid is bust? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glang Posted June 1, 2021 Share Posted June 1, 2021 If its this the main battery connection then when starting youre either drawing an enormous current which would be a problem with the starter motor (unlikely) or a normal current but dont have a very good connection so the extra resistance is generating heat. However if its the small wire connections getting hot these supply many things in the car so if theres a high current you need to trace through to see whats doing it. A fuse should blow to protect against this so again its more likely to be a high resistance where they connect at the battery. I would start by cleaning all the connections and ensuring they have good contact between the surfaces... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt306 Posted June 1, 2021 Author Share Posted June 1, 2021 Cleaned the connectors ; Its getting hot without cranking it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glang Posted June 1, 2021 Share Posted June 1, 2021 Is it the main terminal or the auxilliary wiring connections? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt306 Posted June 1, 2021 Author Share Posted June 1, 2021 main terminal..... I have two terminals one connected to the main motor, the other with a brown (alternator) and a red wire (Battery) connected to it, this gets hot. The other smaller terminal is red and white this isnt so warm. When the key is turned the motor does turn. I assume there is a short in the solenoid part of the starter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glang Posted June 1, 2021 Share Posted June 1, 2021 ok now I understand, sorry I thought you were talking about the connection on the battery +ve terminal. Yes the problem will be a slightly high resistance inside the solenoid between the terminal and the bar that the coil moves to short between the two terminals and pass current onto the starter motor. It only needs a very small increase in resistance (whch can only be measured with specialised gear) but once it starts the heat generated makes things worse and you have a slippery slope. I know the solenoid also pushes the drive gear into contact with the gear ring and dont know but if something was stopping this from happening fully could it also stop those contacts making completely? Otherwise I take it the solenoid is a sealed unit and the internal contacts cant be cleaned? My Vitesse has the older style remote solenoid and I recently got it apart and filed the contacts smooth to improve their conductivity.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobPearce Posted June 1, 2021 Share Posted June 1, 2021 If it's getting hot without cranking it's probably nothing to do with the starter motor or the solenoid. Since the starter motor works fine when cranked and the problem is present when not cranking, I'd look at the terminals on that stub post, make sure they're all clean and properly tight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt306 Posted June 1, 2021 Author Share Posted June 1, 2021 Terminals are all clean and bright, I took the starter off to fit new header pipes. I cleaned the starter motor off and the terminals. Now with the wires connected and no ignition on or key turned the solenoid gets hot . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glang Posted June 1, 2021 Share Posted June 1, 2021 I think you must have it wired up incorrectly then. Is it possible to have the main connections swopped over? Looking at your manual if you did this power would then flow continually back through both pull in and hold coils in the solenoid but in series to earth. It wouldnt operate but would warm up however Im not sure if it would still start as youve found... Have a good look at it compared with the manual (free online if you havent got it) as it must be something youve done during the work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyman Posted June 1, 2021 Share Posted June 1, 2021 Make sure you haven't over tightened the first nut. There should be an insulated washer then a nut then the lead then the outer nut. The inner one is touching earth. It does happen a lot. Tony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beans Posted June 3, 2021 Share Posted June 3, 2021 In case you're in doubt, this is how it should be connected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glang Posted June 3, 2021 Share Posted June 3, 2021 Yes the big red wire comes directly from the battery so is live all the time and must be the source of the current that is warming the coil without the ignition on. It looks possible to mount the solenoid rotated by 180º so the red wire is connected to the other main terminal and I think this would cause the problem. Anyway it seems to have gone very quiet so maybe the issue has been resolved👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt306 Posted June 4, 2021 Author Share Posted June 4, 2021 No the problem remains. Its all connected as above . The wire warming bits remains. I think i probably got too much degreaser and water in it and stuffed it. I have a Powerlite starter on order now so i dont have problems on C2C or RBRR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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