AboutRoland Finston Expertise I take questions about domestic Chrysler-product front wheel drive cars and minivans for the years 1982-2000 based upon my experience and shop manuals. I don't have detailed information (e.g. manuals) nor expertise for Jeeps, trucks, SUV's, import vehicles, or for years more recent than 2000 (except Sebring/Stratus I have '03).
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Experience I have been a do-it-yourself auto hobbyist for 5 decades, and most recently have been concentrating on the various Chrysler Corporation domestic front wheel drive cars and vans. I have shop manuals and wiring diagrams for many models for the years '83-'00, as well as rear wheel drive cars for the early 80's. I enjoy analyzing problems that other Chrysler enthusiasts are having and sharing my information.
Organizations belong to Group co-moderator of the Yahoo autos group The Chrysler LeBaron Club
Question when the van started, I heard a whining sound. I turned the ignition switch off, removed the key, and the starter continued to crank the engine. I disconnected the battery to stop the starter. Is the problem the starter, solenoid, ignition switch, or relay?
Answer Hi Fred,
I suspect it is the starter solenoid switch or the relay. You can pull the relay out of its socket in the power distribution box under the hood, and that would be a test to see if the solenoid is stuck closed mechanically when you hook up the battery again. If that doesn't cause it to run on its own, then reinsert the solenoid and see if it starts cranking on it own. If it does then it is either the relay or the ignition switch. You can test the relay to see if its points are stuck closed with an ohmmeter, or you can check to see if the innermost pin (85) of its socket is grounded. The first of those would implicate the relay being no good; the second that the wire from pin 85 to the transcontroller being falsely grounded (pcm bad, or wire shorted to ground), or the ignition switch being stuck in the starter position.
Roland
