1997 Volvo 850 Starter won't stop

1997 VOLVO 850
179,000 MILES • 2.4L • 5 CYL • TURBO • FWD • AUTOMATIC
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SPITMONKEY
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  • 1 POST
I was pulling into my driveway and I heard a loud grinding noise. When I stopped and turned off the engine, the grinding noise stopped, but the starter continued to run. Disconnecting the battery stopped the starter, but when reconnecting the battery, I hear a click (I'm assuming the solenoid) and the starter starts and continues to run. I tried disconnecting the ignition switch, but still the same problem.
May 4, 2014 at 9:35 AM
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CARADIODOC
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  • 34,306 POSTS
Remove the smaller solenoid wire from the starter solenoid, then reconnect the battery. (Be careful of the sparks; batteries give off explosive hydrogen gas). If the starter still cranks by itself, the solenoid is stuck. That can be caused by a warped housing or a sticky shaft the drive gear slides on, but more commonly by worn contacts and the contact disc on the plunger is getting wedged between them.
May 4, 2014 at 11:12 AM