Ic3man Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 Hello all, I have a 2008 Subaru Legacy 2.5i 5 speed manual and recently changed out my clutch and timing belt. When trying to connect the negative terminal to the battery, the starter started to spin. I've tried figuring out if I have put all the wires back on correctly but it seems that all wires were put back on correctly. I have absolutely no idea why it is doing this because before taking out the starter it was working just fine. Anyone know what I could do to fix this? I can take pictures and post them if that'll help try to find the solution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
relative4 Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 Remove the starter relay and connect the battery again. That will tell you if the problem is in the high-current wiring (more likely) or in the ignition switch / low-current wiring (would be a big coincidence). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apexi Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 I'd be curious to see pictures of how it's hooked up, I might go take a few pics from my car to compare. Process of elimination, double check that, and go from there.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ic3man Posted August 8, 2018 Author Share Posted August 8, 2018 Here are the pictures. I will also try taking out the starter cut relay and try that method. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
relative4 Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 Also pull the little quick-disconnect connector off the solenoid. If the starter spins with that removed, the solenoid contact disc has fused to the motor feed contacts, or at least somehow stuck in the closed position. A tap with a hammer may dislodge it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ic3man Posted August 8, 2018 Author Share Posted August 8, 2018 Ok I pulled out the starter cut relay from thew fuse box inside the car and the quick-disconnect connector off, hammered the starter, and it still spun when the negative was connected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ic3man Posted August 8, 2018 Author Share Posted August 8, 2018 So, does this mean I need to start looking at getting a new starter?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
relative4 Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 Or at least a solenoid. I'd take it off and disassemble it on the bench. This is an unusual problem, worth investigating. And the timing is unlikely to be a coincidence. Before removing, take the power connection off the solenoid and check continuity across the high-current terminals to verify the stuck disk hypothesis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ic3man Posted August 8, 2018 Author Share Posted August 8, 2018 Before I received your post after I went to Auto Zone and got the starter checked. It tested that the starter was working fine. Does this mean that I should still test it? If so where is the power connection on the solenoid and which are the high-current terminals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
relative4 Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 The solenoid has two high-current terminals. One has a wire connected to the starter. That is the motor feed, and you should NOT connect the power cable to that. You should connect the power cable from the battery to the other terminal, which is the power source terminal. Sounds like you may have connected the power cable to the motor feed. But the pics look OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
relative4 Posted August 9, 2018 Share Posted August 9, 2018 Have you checked for continuity across the terminals? When you say it spins, I'm assuming you mean the motor spins WITHOUT extending the pinion to engage with the flywheel. Is that correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ic3man Posted August 9, 2018 Author Share Posted August 9, 2018 It looks like it had continuity on the two high-current terminals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
relative4 Posted August 9, 2018 Share Posted August 9, 2018 I don't know anything about what sort of test AutoZone ran, but there should NOT be continuity across those terminals except when the starter is engaged. Is the pinion extended or retracted? If you're not sure, just post a pic. Assuming the starter is still out of the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ic3man Posted August 9, 2018 Author Share Posted August 9, 2018 The starter is back in the car and I'm just going to get a new starter with solenoid tomorrow and see if that fixes it. Thank you for helping me out so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ic3man Posted August 9, 2018 Author Share Posted August 9, 2018 Relative4 thanks for helping me out and I really appreciate it! It was the solenoid and I replaced it and now it doesn't spin when connecting the negative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
relative4 Posted August 9, 2018 Share Posted August 9, 2018 Glad you got it fixed. Weird timing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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