Educate me on grounds, before something bad happens Options

[ericoneal]

In addition to my ignition trouble in my other thread, my starter stopped working as well. I took it out tonight and noticed that the solenoid was loose AND the rubber boot thing with (formerly?) braided wires that connects from a lead to the starter body was broke. No connection anymore between the solenoid and the starter.



Took it off:




I figure this is some sort of ground for the Solenoid? I put the starter motor back on and ran a wire from that lead to the tranmission ground strap, then went to connect the ground wire back on to the battery and it was really sparky. That didnt seem right, so I then went to attach the new wire to the starter body, and KAPOW! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif)

So whats the purpose of the rubber braided thing from the solenoid to the starter? Should I make a connection somewhere else?

[Spoke]

That is 12V power to the starter motor. The ground for the starter is the body so no ground wire needed.

The solenoid is a relay which closes when the starter is engaged. By turning the key, you merely energize the solenoid. From there when the solenoid pushes the starter gear into the flywheel, it also completes the 12V connection from the large bolt and big red wire from the battery to the other large bolt which goes to the starter motor to turn the motor.

You may be best off buying a new starter.