1994 Mercury Topaz Stater

206,600 MILES • 4 CYL • FWD • AUTOMATIC
Avatar
CJPRITZL
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I own a Mercury Topaz 1994 witha 2.3L. I replaced the starter in January. About a month ago the starter would not disengage after the engine was running and kapt going even after I turn off the engine. After 30 seconds it stopped and worked properly. Since it would randomly engage ,but only for a second. I replaced the key lock cylinder and the ignition switch on the steering colunm. I also swapped out the starter since it was still under warranty. This has not helped and it has gotten worse. The starter will engage anytime the battery is hooked up. Any thoughts? Thank you for your time.
Chris

updated 4-7-10
Thanks for getting back to me. I unplugged the red wire with the blue stripe and the starter kept going, so I bought a new solenoid, but the starter stills keeps going like before. I have now replaced the starter, the solenoid, the key lock cylinder, and the ignition switch. Is there anything else you can suggest I try. Thanks for your help.
Apr 5, 2010 at 1:07 PM
Advertisement
Avatar
CARADIODOC
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 34,413 POSTS
Sounds like the starter solenoid is sticking. It sits on the inner fender under the hood, near the battery, and is black and about 2" in diameter. Unplug the small red wire with blue stripe. If the starter keeps on cranking, the solenoid is stuck. It might also stop cranking if you tap on it.

caradiodoc
Apr 5, 2010 at 2:02 PM
Avatar
CARADIODOC
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 34,413 POSTS
Hmmm. With that red / blue wire off, either the new solenoid is also sticking or it is not connected correctly. There is a small red wire hooked to one of the large terminals. Pull that one off. The starter should stop. If it still cranks, the problem is with the starter.

If the starter stops spinning, plug the red / blue wire back in and see if the solenoid operates correctly with the ignition switch. If it activates but doesn't release, it is either wired wrong or it's sticking.

caradiodoc
Apr 7, 2010 at 6:58 AM
Add a reply
Join 2CarPros for free, one of the most advanced car repair communities on the internet. From first-time drivers to seasoned mechanics, everyone is welcome to reply, share details, and get better answers. You can add a temporary image or video first; uploads are limited to 20 MB.

Frequently Asked Problems for This Vehicle