This morning at the QuikTrip, after a cup of coffee, the starter would not disengage after the truck started. Long story short, after I got in home, it was hanging by the bottom bolt, top bolt completely gone. I removed the starter, took it to the local parts place and had them test it. It worked fine on the tester, and I made them do it 3 times. Got it home, cleaned up and ready to install. I chased the threads up top, put in a new 10 x 1.25 bolt top and bottom of the correct length. Put everything together and the second I hit the key, it started right up, then the starter again failed to quit running. It didn't sound like it was engaged, just running full blast. Jerked the battery cable to stop it. Can someone tell me what to do next? BTW, while waiting on the truck to cool down this morning, I pulled the entire ignition/key assembly, cleaned and lubed, and reinstalled. The key seems to return fine, but...could it be a bad ignition component at the bottom of the key cylinder (where all the wires come out. Note the truck is an 88, 22RE, 5-speed, mostly stock. Help, help, help. I need to go to work tomorrow. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

Do this quick voltage test:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/Starter.shtml#EasyTest

If you see 12 volts at the starter solenoid with the key off, then something is sending current to the starter.

If you see no voltage at the solenoid (with the key off), then the solenoid is sticking on. Likely causes are dirt/grease inside the solenoid bore making the plunger stick or worn copper contacts inside the solenoid. With uneven wear, the contacts, that sit on opposite sides of the plunger can make the plunger get cocked in the bore and stick.

take the day off and replace your starter.

a reman. should cost about 50-60 and a new one from toyota is about oh... exactly $96.

with all the time you put into troubleshooting your old one.....

hey I had that problem once and all it was was the bolt that holds it to the belt housing was loose and the starter was arcing on something. It took me forever to figure that out and at first I was in the middle of a lake of mud that was like 2ft deep. going too fast thru the first time and accidentaly got water in the carb. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> anyway finger tightened to get the truck started and out of the puddle and then after i had another go at the mud I took it home, rinsed it off and tightened her back up. 15000 miles later and still no problems with the same starter. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Roger,
There is no voltage at the solenoid, and I verified I had 12+ at the battery cable to make sure I was getting a good ground and reading with my multimeter. I unplugged the solenoid connector and double checked at the connector as well. I am keeping the old starter so I can rebuild it per your guidelines, but since it's my daily driver, I bought a rebuild anyway. I'll get back to you when I figure out what kind of stuff I need. I appreciate your help. It pays to listen to you IEEE folks. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

$65 from O'Reilly's with a lifetime guarantee to fail when you least need it to. The truck's my DD, so I need it running. I kept my old one ($18 core), so I can rebuild it and make it better. (insert sound byte from $6M Man here). <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Yeah, if you can keep the stock starters and alternators for these things, you're much better off. After the rebuild, have the parts store bench check it for ya, and put 'er away. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

My truck runs and I am tired but reasonably happy. The starter part was easy. Chasing down a 10 x 1.25 tap, working in 106 degree heat in my garage, finding 2 new bolts the right length, and getting plenty of help from the 20-month old was a little tough. Thanks for the quick assistance everybody.

There aren't many things that gets your parts puckered up better than to have the starter keep running... Happened to me once and it was a mad dash to get the tools and the battery cable off the goll darn thing. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> And of course Mr. Murphy would dictate that these episodes happen at the most incovenient times. 106 degrees huh, are you guys having a cool snap down there?? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />
I hope you find that all the starter needs is new contacts and some cleaning up.

Saw the weather forecast this morning. They are predicting this cold front will move out early next week and it should warm up nicely. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />