The solenoid is a switch. The top stud has a cable connected to the
battery. The bottom terminal has a strap that goes to the wiring inside
the starter. That is why, when your solenoid fails, you can jump the
starter, with a big screwdriver, or equivalent, and cause the starter to
run. (but not engage) (Useful in diagnosis) The small terminal in the
middle is one side of the switching (control) circuit. The other side of
the switching circuit is the ground through the starter itself, to the
engine, to the body and the negative terminal.
If you suspect a problem with the starter control circuit, you can jump
from the top terminal to the small terminal and if the starter and solenoid
work correctly, the starter should engage. (another reason why your ol
dissel can get you home when others are F.O.R.D.)
If the nut on the bottom is loose, the current to the starter is probably
arcing, and may not make contact, or may not conduct enough juice to start,
and will likely cause overheating at the terminal.
At 12:06 PM 3/27/2006, you wrote:
Thanks Loren. I'll certainly try to tighten it up. By the way, what's that
second terminal, (stud) for anyway? Mine doesn't have any wire going to it.
Brian
83 240D
On 3/26/06, Loren Faeth <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> BINGO! that'd do it! If the stud on the solenoid is tight, and only the
> nut is loose, tighten it and see what happens. It might be a cheap
> fix. If the stud is loose in the solenoid, you need at least a new
> solenoid, and the Bosch ones are not cheap. I've been known to buy a used
> starter just to get a used Bosch solenoid. The brand X solenoids I have
> tried never last long.
>
>
> At 11:41 PM 3/26/2006, you wrote:
> >When I went to change out my starter yesterday, I noticed that the
> solenoid
> >(or at least the assembly onto which the wires connect, and where there
> is
> >that second terminal, or nut) is loose. It rattles around between your
> >fingers. Obviously this is a problem. Question is: Could tightening it
> back
> >up (if that's even possible) solve the intermittent starting problem,
> thus
> >allowing me to return the starter I bought? This weekend as I drove the
> 240
> >to a wedding, etc. it always started - did not do what it did before
> which
> >was absolutely nothing. But I heard a minor but noticeable "clack" just
> >before the starter jumped to life. Incidentally, I did not change the
> >starter out - mainly because the largest Allen key I have is 10mm.
> >
> >Brian
> >83 240D
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