Starter Solenoid Up In Smoke!

Well I tried to jump start my CJ with the van and when I turned over the ignition my Solenoid started smoking...whats up with that! Pos to Pos and Neg to Neg on the batteries. Tried to turn over but now the solenoid just clicks, got any sugestions boys? I also noticed the jumper cables were getting hot. Any help would be apreciated.

 

My first guess would be that the contacts on the solenoid were worn out and cruddy and created a point of high resistance. The resistance created heat, and caused the smoke to come out.

 

Is your jeep 6V or 12V? My previous owner decided to show me the jeep I eventually bought and he decided to jump it with his truck (12V) and my jeep (6V). Jumper connections arced like a lightening storm and smoke came from terminals. My solenoid was not right since and was replaced. Got replacement (6V) from napa for $20.00 and works perefect now.

 

It's a 12V set up, I think I may have been working it too hard trying to get it started. I think the battery may be dead R) ...it's not holding a charge and it's not giving me enough juice to turn the starter over. Is it normal for a starter solenoid to go cliiiiiiiiick,cliiiiiiiiiiiick or should it just go click. R)

 

I always connect good battery positive (+) to dead battery (+), good battery negative (-) to ground on disabled vehicle.

Not saying that’s your problem just good practice in my opinion.

 

If u dont got heavy enough booster cables it will just go cliiiiiick

 

Cruddy terminals on the battery or solenoid?

 

Can I bypass the solenoid and connect strait to the starter to see if its the solenoid?

 

I would clean and tighten all connections first then I would make sure I have 12.6 volt reading at the battery (Radio Shack has small volt meters for $10-12). You can check the solenoid by removing the S-terminal and put a jumper wire from the battery positive to the S-terminal. If it cranks, the solenoid isn’t bad and is most likely the starter. If it doesn’t crank you can check the ground by connecting another wire from the negative battery post to the solenoid mounting bracket. Still doesn’t work, then you can use jumper cables to check between the battery and starter motor, just remember to take off the jumper wires (battery/solenoid) before testing the starter. None of this is valid it you don’t have 12.6 volts at the battery.

Edit: If your going to test the starter make sure you have the emergency brake on and/or chock the tires with tranny out of gear.

 

Gotcha Chuck try it in the mornin, thanks for your help.

 

Well Guess what...I got her running today...yeah!! It was having trouble turning over. I crancked it by hand about five times and turned the key over and she started right up. Thanks for all your help guys. 's for everyone.

 

Good to hear it good work