Starter problems, help please!

[jelbass]

I replace the starter on my 1990 GT 150 3 months and I was out the other day and I had starter problems again. I removed the hood and seen where a ground wire opposite the side the starter is on, was smoking, in fact the cover on the wire was melting off. Can this be cause by the Starter Solenoid or is the starter gone bad again? If it the Starter Solenoid, where a good auto parts store to pick one up? Thanks and God bless all. Happy Easter to all.
James in NC

 

[JB]

Re: Starter problems, help please!

It is very likely that your starter never needed replacement, James. Three out of five starters that are replaced aren't bad. Remove all big cables from the battery to the engine and the one from the solenoid to the starter. Clean both ends thoroughly, check for weak spots and corrosion, then replace. If there is any weakness in a cable, replace it.

Let us know what you find.

 

[HybridMX6]

Re: Starter problems, help please!

Sounds like a bad connection to me, and the wire is straining to get a good enough connection to spin the starter, and creating hot spots, thus melting stuff. Do as JB suggestioned and let us know how it is afterwards. If the wires look melted, consider replacing them.

 

[jelbass]

Re: Starter problems, help please!

It is very likely that your starter never needed replacement, James. Three out of five starters that are replaced aren't bad. Remove all big cables from the battery to the engine and the one from the solenoid to the starter. Clean both ends thoroughly, check for weak spots and corrosion, then replace. If there is any weakness in a cable, replace it.

Let us know what you find.

I'll try again but, when I put the new starter on I checked all cables(cleaned the ends) and changed the battery connector at the battery. I don't take the cable off the solenoid, but when I told it off Saturday I don't see any corrosion, thus my thinking it may be the solenoid. But, I'll go back over it.
Thanks and God bless all.
James NC

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Starter problems, help please!

90% of starter problems are bad connections. remove and clean both ends of the battery cables, so that they are shiney, also the cable from the solenoid to starter. check for nicks in the cables. and make sure the connectors are on the wire good. the cable tend to corrode from the inside out, if nicked, corroded wires, and connections, heat up and cause resistance to the follow of electricity, thus the starter doesn't get enough. you can also take jumper cable pos battery post to large post on starter. with a good connection, the engine should spin. then if the starter is good clean everything and retest. then trouble shoot solenoid. starters can be rebuit at a starter/alternator shop, much cheaper than a new one.

also have the battery load tested at the auto parts store, free, i've had new batteries go bad

 

[daselbee]

Re: Starter problems, help please!

That cable from engine block to battery negative post has got an internal resistance. I bet if you peel back the burned insulation you will see green wires, instead of nice shiny copper.
Just 10 ohms of resistance will develop 120 watts of power, generating heat enough to burn the insulation. Think how hot a 100 watt light bulb gets....
That negative cable is bad internally, and I too agree...your first starter was probably not bad....

 

[jelbass]

Re: Starter problems, help please!

OK, I've screw up and for got how to hook the wires by to the solenoid. I cleaned all the hook-up' and got call away from the project and when I came back I can't remember how what wire goes to each hook up. Anyone got a pic or a diagram of these on the GT150. My father has a 140 Johnson will the hook-ups be the same? Thanks and God bless all.
James NC

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Starter problems, help please!

yes the same.

 

[jelbass]

Re: Starter problems, help please!

OK, his is later model I'd say a late 70's or a early 80's and it has different colored wires going to the small connectors(pole) both connectors on the 140 has a single wire and both looked black. On my one 150 one connector has two wire with what looks like orange and yellow and the other is black. On the solenoid one pole has what looks like an I and the other has a S::, now which wire connects to which pole or post. Thanks and God bless all.
James NC

 

[jelbass]

Re: Starter problems, help please!

"Solenoid wiring, battery + to right side of solenoid, solenoid to starter left side of solenoid. positive to ignition on big post right side,( should have red inline fuse holder, positive from ignition, small right post, ground small left post."

I found this on another posting about starter, (Thanks tashasdaddy), I'll try it after work today. I'll post the results. God bless all.
James NC