Civic Electrical Problem?

88 honda civic SE with a 1.5 with 270,000 kms on it.


I was heading off to shcool this afternoon and I went to start the car
and something crazy happened. I advanced the key as usual when
starting a car, however, after the car started the starter just kept
on cranking (even after I shut the car off and pulled the key). After
I finally realized what was making the funny noise (the starter
grinding/cranking) I pulled the battery cable. Anyone ever heard of
this or maybe know where I should start looking for the problem?


Thanks,
Curt

 

Have you driven through high water recently? This happened to my VW Rabbit
once. High water went up the drain hole on the bottom of the bell housing
and was slung up into the starter. About two days later a little sheen of
rust formed on the solenoid that engages the starter. The next time I
started the car, it stuck and the starter stayed engaged until power was cut
by pulling the battery cable. The solenoid was a separate piece on the
outside of the starter, but I had to replace the starter anyway because they
wouldn't sell it separately.

 

Haven't driven it through high water, however, it has been really wet
and sloppy during the past few days here in good ol Winnipeg,
Manitoba. I guess that would be the place to start looking. I'll pull
off the starter when I get a chance. I beleive the solenoid is a
seperate unit that is attached to the starter which is not sold
seperatly.

Any chance it could be the actual ignition switch? I'm not sure if
that is the correct name for it but I'm talking about the part that
accepts the key which you advance to start the car. Anyone ever heard
of them going on civics?

Thanks,
Curt