Starter relay

[Bigpete]

Hi folks

can anyone help me? I have owned my van for about a month now but I have just had to replace the starter for the second time. I think the relay for it is stopping it disengaging once it has started the van so when I drive I am spinning the starter.(?)
can anyone tell me where this relay is so I can check it and also what to look at.

Has anyone else ever had this trouble?

[Red Westie]

The starter relay as you put it, is called a solenoid. The Starter solenoid is part of the starter motor, it serves two purposes:
1) to throw the pinion into mesh with flywheel ring gear
2) then.... to bridge a main contact to allow power to the motor which then spins to start the cars engine.

Reading your fault description I have a couple of suggestions

1) the solenoid is sticking and so not disengaging the pinion
or
2) you may have an ignition switch fault which is keeping the solenoid powered instead of properly springing back and cutting the power to the solenoid switch wire.

Martin

[Bigpete]

Thanks mate do you know how I can test the ignition switch?
Do you mean the actual thing where the key goes or something else?

[Red Westie]

Thanks mate do you know how I can test the ignition switch?
Do you mean the actual thing where the key goes or something else?

Well you kinda get a feel for the ignition switch, wether by holding it one way or the other. it makes a difference?
As for where it is located....the switch itself has one retaining screw and is screwed to the underside of the ignition barrel.
The steering wheel/switch gear and ignition barrel have to be removed to gain access to this 'retaining screw' in order to release and replace the switch.
It is a white plastic housing and not made of metal so easy to see on the flip side.
Mart