How do you change a worn solenoid contacts?

Tiny
STACY24J
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 MITSUBISHI GALANT
  • 147,000 MILES
I have to turn my key off & on a bunch of times for it to start, but eventually it starys right up & if u charge the battery it cranks right up, I changed the battery so its good, & so I bought a starter from a junk yard cause thats really all I can affors right now, & its still doong the same thing. So I read a commeon here & someone said the solenoid contacts r worn, what do I do & were can I buy them? Tjanx
Thursday, February 16th, 2012 AT 5:42 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Best check if it has a starter relay if it does check it, if it continues check the ignition switch
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Thursday, February 16th, 2012 AT 5:45 AM
Tiny
STACY24J
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So its not worn solenoids, & if its the starter relay are they exphow expensive & how would u fix that & are ignitions switches exspensive? My dad said that he thonks its the ignition switch to after he changed the starter & the problem didnt go away, but I read another comment on here & the experts car did the same thing & he said it was the solenoid cantacts were worn.
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Thursday, February 16th, 2012 AT 5:54 AM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
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The 2nd one is doing the same thing-don't you think something is wrong-get a repair manual and check the relay and ig. Switch
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Thursday, February 16th, 2012 AT 6:12 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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To test if it is the solenoids, disconnect the starter solenoid and use a fused wire to apply battery voltage to the solenoid terminal. Connect and disconnect a few times and if the starter cranks up every time, it is not the starter solenoid nor a fault with the starter.

Quite often the wiring goes bad when they age and if vehicle is not equipped with a starter solenoid, installiing one would do.

When turning the ignition key to start, does the starter click and try to crank or you hear no response at all?
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Thursday, February 16th, 2012 AT 12:48 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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How about a picture of the starter that you replaced?

Some starter has solenoids contacts that can be replaced and some solenoids are non rrepairable.

For those with contact type, improper installation of the battery cable can cause the contacts to be twisted and starter to fail.
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Thursday, February 16th, 2012 AT 1:01 PM
Tiny
STACY24J
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I hear no response, it doesnt make a clicking noise, but after a few times of turning the key it starts.
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Thursday, February 16th, 2012 AT 1:24 PM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
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Inspect the solenoid -if okay Try cleaning the brushes and see what happens
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Thursday, February 16th, 2012 AT 10:10 PM

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