I think I seized the starter in the Raider

"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
08/24/2019 at 20:15 • Filed to: raider

I have the bad habit of parking standard vehicles in neutral, and not using the clutch when I start them. So yesterday I decided to start the truck, since I was thinking of switching my plates to it for a month or two. Apparently I parked in gear, which I never do, and my handbrake is very strong. The truck lurched forward, made a nice big clunk, and the starter strained very hard before everything shut off pretty much as I let go of the key.

Today the battery was down to about 11v, so I hooked it up to the V70. Power at the main fusible link, power at the wire to the starter, but the solenoid just clicks and it won’t try spinning at all. I’m assuming it drew so much power fighting the handbrake that it overheated and seized. Time to figure out how to read a wiring diagram so I can see if there’s something I’m missing.

DISCUSSION (18)

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > gmctavish needs more space
08/24/2019 at 20:22

Seems right to me.

Also, the way you start manual vehicles is actually the appropriate way to start an Austin/BMC Mini. So you should buy one.

I know of a very well sorted one asking 15k (not firm) in Dayton, Ohio...

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > gmctavish needs more space
08/24/2019 at 20:22

I forget, is it a manual? Did you try bump-starting it just to make sure it’s, indeed, a starter issue?

I can’t start my manual Accent without the clutch....there’s an interlock circuit that won’t let it unless I have the clutch pressed.

gmctavish needs more space > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
08/24/2019 at 20:25

Really? Weird. I have always wanted one, but that’s out of my budget, and quite far away...

smobgirl > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
08/24/2019 at 20:27

Same on my Fiat. The sales guy kept forgetting when we were trying to test drive it (and by we, I mean I was a passenger) and would get confused when it wouldn’t start.

gmctavish needs more space > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
08/24/2019 at 20:28

It is indeed manual. I t’s definitely the starter, it’s not spinning at all, but I can hear the solenoid working. I think everything new has a clutch safety switch, but every manual car I’ve had has been old enough that it doesn’t need the clutch pressed.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > smobgirl
08/24/2019 at 20:29

SMRT! I think my old ‘02 Impreza had the same interlock as well. The Raider is probably old enough it doesn’t though!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > gmctavish needs more space
08/24/2019 at 20:45

Sorry, I’d skimmed your post and completely missed the word clutch, so yes, it’s obviously a manual....forgive my stupidity, lol. Hopefully nothing is damaged except the starter!

gmctavish needs more space > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
08/24/2019 at 20:47

No worries! Yeah I’m hoping so. I’d be even happier if there’s another fuse I missed and it’s actually fine, but I’m thinking it’ll be staying parked till I get a new starter in it.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > gmctavish needs more space
08/24/2019 at 20:50

I’m not kidding, have you tried bashing it, the starter I mean? That may free it up for a bit and at least make the failure clear

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > gmctavish needs more space
08/24/2019 at 21:03

Rumored they would take 10k... It’s very clean. It’s a newer one (late 80s I wanna say?) and has great seats and an incredible interior. Paint is perfect, too. If I were buying a Mini, it would be this one.

Fair enough for budget and distance, though.

gmctavish needs more space > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick)
08/24/2019 at 21:12

Yeah I smacked it with a tire iron while someone else cranked. It sadly did nothing. That’s actually how I kept my Blazer going for a long time before replacing the starter.

Longtime Lurker > gmctavish needs more space
08/24/2019 at 21:24

I do this every time someone else drives my BMW. Start it like I always do with no clutch, and have a moment of panic as the car lurches forward. Never damaged the starter thankfully.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > gmctavish needs more space
08/24/2019 at 22:11

Damn, figured you already knew from previous posts but sometimes it’s easy to look past the simple stuff

gmctavish needs more space > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick)
08/24/2019 at 23:11

It really is. I spent way too long looking for an electrical fault with this thing a while back , only to realize the battery cable was shorting against the body. Oops.

gmctavish needs more space > Longtime Lurker
08/24/2019 at 23:13

I’m almost leaning towards it being another fuse. It just seems way to little time to completely burn/seize it, but maybe it was. I’m also really impressed with the handbrake, it didn’t move forward at all.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > gmctavish needs more space
08/25/2019 at 16:31

Solidarity in our wasted time brother. I spent hours disassembling my defrost switch only to find the issue was the vacuum hose to the vent control was unplugged at the vent.

Goggles Pizzano > gmctavish needs more space
08/25/2019 at 17:47

This sounds right to me. Just a feeling, but I don’t think a starter would overheat that easily.

The “10 second rule” for consecutive turn-overs to keep from overheating a starter seems like it would produce a lot more heat than what you’ve done. And you can do that multiple times in a row with no problems.

I’ve been in a 4.0 Cherokee that had no trouble starting in 1st gear on a dirt road with no damage to the starter. Maybe 6-7 turn-overs and 10-15 feet of loco motion.

gmctavish needs more space > Goggles Pizzano
08/25/2019 at 18:02

I think it’s more likely that it burned out the switch or something. It drew enough power to blacken the positive post, which is unsettling. It was the handbrake being on that made it really strain. H opefully there’s some easy to access fuse, th ough...all I know is it isn’t the fusible link or the solenoid.