Driving and heard a %26quot;jack-hammer-like%26quot; sound, turned out to be my van. No excessive smoke, 12v guage was dropping with low idles and rising as I hit the gas. Eventually the van stopped running. No ignition sounds at all, but power still to the radio, lights etc.
Changed starter. Still the van tries to start when the %26quot;red%26quot; is re-connected to the battery, with no key in the ignition. But will not start.
Currently the van is jacked up, battery disconnected and sitting still under my car port!!!
Any suggestions???
Thanks
'96 Safari. Starter is engaging with NO KEY in ignition.?
Definitely a short. With the starter removed open the harness and follow the solenoid wire back to it's source. Your going to find a short probably caused by heat from a manifold too close. Another possible is the neutral safety switch. This switch is connected mechanically to the transmission and the wiring may be involved in the linkage.
The short has found a power source and is feeding from it.
Should be easily found by an experienced mechanic.
Yes, sometimes the starter relay can stick. Remove the wireing from it and see if the starter wireing is hot/power.Test light. It will show up as being hot to the touch as well.
'96 Safari. Starter is engaging with NO KEY in ignition.?
The starter is getting energized when it isn't supposed to. Sounds like a bad relay or switch, to me.
Good Luck!
if you have a remote start, disconnect it.
Sounds like the Starter Sellenoid is staying engaged. You'll have to get a new starter in. At least remove it and take it to a parts store to get it tested. This happened to me 2 times on my 92 Aerostar.
sounds to me like its the ignition switch, sounds like the switch is stuck in the run position.
If you are getting power to all of those things I would say your ignition switch is bad. Other than that maybe the starter relay is bad. You should disconnect the starter main power, so you can diagnose the problem.
I agree with wisdom's answer. your starter is getting power through a short.
disconnect the purple wire from the starter reconnect the battery is the purple wire still hot?
my guess says yes disconnect the neutral switch from transmission is the purple wire still hot? yes again
for this to happen while driving the purple wire must have shorted to batt voltage because the neutral switch would have been open (not in neutral or park switch open)
find where the purple wire shorted to battery voltage
