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What's the solenoid on an automobile?

Automobile Starter question?

  • On my car starter the solenoid is attached to the starter motor. If the wire attached to the solenoid were loose, would this prevent full power reaching the solenoid? Could this result in the starter spinning freely before engaging the starter pinion into the engine flywheel teeth? I have a 2002 Ford Taurus with the Duratech 3.0 engine. If I wanted to check to see that the solenoid were getting the full Amps and Voltage from the wiring harness using a voltmeter/ampmeter - what would the normal voltage and amps be? Do I measure it while it's connected or disconnected and just put the meter leads on the solenoid and on the wiring harness?

  • Answer:

    I own a starter repair facility and after reading your question and looking at the answers I have concluded that either you have teeth missing on flywheel or the solenoid isn't engaging the starter to its fullest point....The teeth missing on flywheel isn't likely but possible....The starter motor is running fine or the starter wouldn't run at all BUT the solenoid is more likely the problem.... REMOVE THE STARTER -- take a battery charger or jump pack and hook the positive to the top solenoid post and the negative to the drive housing of starter (this is the part that mounts the starter to the engine).Then take a jumper wire connect it to the positive wire and touch it to the small terminal on solenoid NOW THIS will activate the starter have a good grip on unit and don't be alarmed if you see a spark this is normal! This is how you test a starter solenoid....If the starter works fine meaning the drive gear comes out and spins freely and at a fast pace the unit is FINE.... If you get nothing THEN remove the jumper wire take the positive lead to the bottom stud on solenoid this will run the starter motor by itself -- this will tell you weather its the starter motor or the solenoid is bad. Since you mentioned the unit was trying to start then I would rule out a power prob. Your volt meter should read 13.5 volts while engine is running. check this on the battery with a volt meter.

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If the wires were loose then it may act as ashort or an open circuit partialy making contact at the starter terminals and seem like the the stater free spins then makes contact with the ring gear. measure the voltage drop from the battery + terminal to the starter B+lug it should read no more than three volts while cranking or engaging the starter motor and no more than 90 amps while cranking or starting the engine.

Kathy H

12 volts always.

mech335

Just take a test light and follow the main wire from the battery to the starter, make sure that's getting power all the time, then have someone sit in the car and see if you are getting power to the solenoid, but you have to test this when they have the key in the turned on position.

Will S

Measure nothing,,,, what you describe is a defective starter drive,, this a mechanical failure,, You will have to replace the starter. the drive is one way clutched and when it free spins it is in need of replacement

imbustass

no, it will not, if the starter spins before engaging the problem is the Bendix drive in the starter, i wouldn't even check the voltage of that wire, if the starter spins when you turn the key to the start position you are getting plenty of voltage to the starter

Cooltime

If the pinion is spinning freely without engaging the flywheel then the solenoid is sticking.

Badboy Mikey`s wraith.©

12 volts runs the system, if there isnt enough voltage going to the solenoid, then the starter isnt going to spin at all... if your starter is spinning and isnt engauging the flywheel, then you have a bad solenoid or the bendix on the starter is stripped, or a flat spot on the flywheel, but not typical. what is the exact problem your having????

Fordguy_81

Mechanical, not electrical. Sounds like either the teeth on the flywheel, or the starter are history.

shocked

To test voltage, with the ignition disabled, hook the positive end of your meter to the battery positive post, an negative lead to the ground post. Crank the engine for ten seconds. Your voltage should not drop below 10.5 volts. If it does, your battery is weak or your starter is drawing too many amps. To check a draw, you must hook the meter in line with the circuit. That means unhook the wire from the big post of the starter, put your positive lead on the wire, put your negative lead on the post and watch your meter explode as you pump 150-250 amps through an instument meant to measure 10 amps max! The other alternative is to take your car to a shop that has the equipment that can actually test a draw like that. You can also take the starter in by itself for a bench test Hey' did you count the teeth on the old and new starters? Some have 8 and some have 9. Sure you got the right starter

Jeff B

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