what happens when the silinoid is stuck in engaged, on an 1986 ford bronco...?

Question

its a fender mounted silinoid, when i started the truck it was running fine and then when i went to back up it shut off, when i tried to start it again all it did was try to crank over and when i turned the key back and took it out it still was cranking over, and kept cranking over untill the battery went dead, what would cause this to happen is it the silinoid or am i looking at a different problem on my hands? please help asap, i need to get to work tomorrow

Answer 1

Either the solenoid stuck or the ignition switch kept sending current to it after you released the key. Hopefully your starter didn't get damaged by cranking the engine for that long. The only function of the solenoid is to start the engine. Once it has done this you don't need it until you want to start it again. You could take the cable off that runs from the solenoid to the starter along with the small wire on the solenoid and charge the battery. After the battery is charged,(if you absolutely have to go somewhere) you can turn your key on and get under the hood and touch the cable you took off to the post you removed it from. The engine should crank and as soon as it starts remove the cable again.. If it works your good to go until you have to start it again.Or just get a new solenoid and hope that is what it was. Chances are that was the problem...Good Luck...

Answer 2

Starter or sylinoid. What I would do is remove the part and take it to an auto parts store and have it checked. Something else I have done in the past was tap the starter with a hammer. If it keeps turning over, before the battery runs down, pull off the ground wire to the battery to kill the power.

Answer 3

Your starter relay(solenoid) stuck in the on position. You will need to replace it and get a new battery or get your battery recharged. It's a cheap part about 10 bucks.