On 11/10/03 1:59 PM, in article 5uqvqvsaqs39jas252urvh90613gvekp0i@4ax.com,
"none@here.com" <none@here.com> wrote:

> 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.