My car is 1968 XR7. When I bought it there was burned wiring under the dash. I fixed it myself. I also had to change the ignition switch pigtail. Car was also converted to Duraspark II ignition.
The car is a running project that I put less than 100 miles on in the last year, but I have gone through three starter solenoids.
When the first on went out it was the one that had come with the car, could not tell what brand, light grey plastic, looks like Standard Brand economy line. Once it engaged the starter it would not disengage.
Second one was a Standard Brand Blue Streak. Car would not turn off when I turned the key off. I even unplugged the pigtail to the ignition switch and the car still ran. My neighbor owns an auto electric shop, he came over and smacked the solenoid and the car shut off.
I replaced it with an Echlin Brand one from Napa. Occasionally the car will not shut off. Tapping the solenoid with the handle of a screwdriver shuts it off.
Is the engine not turning off a common issue with a bad solenoid?
My dad owned a dozen Fords in my youth, I had a 1966 Falcon and 1968 Mustang, and we did all the work on them ourselves. They all had the inner fender mounted solenoids, and I don’t once ever remember once a car refusing to shut off because of one going bad.
I have found no shorts in the car, is there anything else that would cause solenoids to stick in this manner?
Neighbor suggested maybe a bad ground till he looked and saw I actually had a second ground strap.
Thanks, CWatson