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?

[rph20355]

That braided wire is not the ground. That braided wire is the switched positive to the starter motor. Battery positive cable is attached to the other round copper post. When solenoid is energized with 12+v from ignition switch (via small wire attached to flat spade connector) the contact inside the solenoid connects the battery positive round copper post to the braided wire post sending 12+v to the starter motor (that braided wire is/should be insulated from the starter case). The starter is grounded by mounting it to the engine block. I've never seen that braided wire separate like that. Maybe caused by the very loose solenoid pulling on it? Also not sure what you meant by "ran a wire from that lead to the transmission ground strap" The lead on the solenoid? Or the remaining braid going to the starter? Either way, something's wrong and you'll probably need a new/rebuilt starter.