went to start my 98 trooper today. When it started I herd an unusual noise coming from the engine. I turned off the ignition and the starter motor was still turnning over the engine. I quickley popped the hood and pulled the negative off the battery. so the the starter is somehow stuck in its starting mode. what could be stuck to allow the starter to still run even if the ignition key is in the off position? you would think that if you turned off the ignition that would cut power to the starter. would the problem be in the key switch? any ideas would be welcome

Could be that the solenoid is stuck to where it is always activated, thus causing it to continue running with or without the key in the ignition.

Richard <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

I suspect the starter relay. Your key switch activates the relay, which activates the starter...so I'm thinking relay. That is the only way the starter could continue to get juice even with the key off.

It's doubtful that its the keyswitch or you wouldn't have been able to shut off the engine at all. Its probably the solonoid inside the starter is stuck. I could be the relay, I guess. A simple test would be to pull the relay and then reconnect the battery but then again, the starter solonoid may have unstuck but if it does crank with the relay removed, then its the starter solonoid.

If you can get to the starter try tapping on the solonoid, It might free it long enough to get a new starter.