Another 348 no turnover thread

I took my 91 348 out for a long drive Saturday. On restarting after the last couple of stops, the starter turned but the engine was reluctant to fire. It finally started for me and ran fine each time. Today I went out, pulled the bullet connectors apart and put some CRC QD electrical cleaner in there. I sprayed down the stud connector on the starter ( I did not disconnect the positive cables). I also sprayed the ignition signal post and connector. I went to test start the car, and now it doesn't turn over at all. I don't think I did anything to screw it up but I have a tendency to make things worse for myself when I try to improve them. I have normal dash lights and everything else elecrical, but when I turn the key to start the car, I hear what I think is a click in the starter and then a slightly louder clack when I turn the key back to remove it. I tried the test of removing the ignition signal wire and using a screwdriver to jump the positive cables to the post. I get a lot of sparks, but my starter doesn't turn. Does this sound like my starter has died? It's entirely possible that I'm performing the jump test incorrectly.

I'm going to try to wire up the Bosch WR-1 relay to see if that helps anything since it's an inexpensive alternative and probably a good idea in general. I'm just concerned that my starter isn't even turning with the screwdriver jump test. Last thing...I noticed this little ring that I've circled in this topview picture of the starter. What is that? Could it have something to do with my problem?

Thanks for any and all advice!

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Thanks for the feedback. Yes, the starter solenoid power supply is what I was referring to, the white wire going to the spade connector. I'll try jumping it directly off the battery as suggested and see what I get.

Yes, I agree the hot start behavior I was seeing and this problem are 2 different things. I don't hear any rattling in the clutch housing but the behavior is symptomatic of the flywheel grease hot start issue. That was the longest and most mileage I've driven the car in a single day since acquiring it, so in my estimation the most I've heated up the grease and thinned it out? More guesswork on my part though.

thanks again, I'll report back what I find.

 

Some good news I think. I ran and got some 12 gauge wire, attached a female spade connector and plugged it into the solenoid. When I touch the other end directly to the battery post, My starter turns. When I touch it to the terminal connector attached to the post, I get the click/clack that I get turning the key in the ignition. I am going to clean my battery terminals again, and am hoping between that and the relay it will fix this current situation. Once I get the car fired up; again, I'll revisit the potential hot start issue if I experience it again. Once I get the relay I'll update again. Thanks again for the continued guidance.

 

just to close the loop on this, I think 75% of my problem was self inflicted. After I learned how the Denso starter solenoid works, I realized that I had most likely caused most of my starting problems. The nut on the battery terminal post had become rusted or corroded on the post, and when I attempted to remove it, it twisted the whole terminal post. Thus I was inadvertently also causing the contact on the battery side to move out of position since it's connected to the post inside the solenoid. The best way to figure out how something works is to break it and force yourself to fix it!

I pulled the starter off, opened up the solenoid and found that the contacts and plunger were pretty badly pitted and corroded. I replaced them with this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FERRARI-348-MONDIAL-T-3-4-STARTER-MOTOR-SOLENOID-REPAIR-KIT-128000-8181-141706-/252518954246

The parts are pretty generic though so any plunger and contacts that match will do. I also ordered new posts, insulators, o-rings, nuts and washers to replace all the parts. I think I spent less than $40 on all the parts. I made sure it worked on the bench, put it back in the car and voila, it's alive again. I still have the Bosch hard start relay kit but I haven't installed it. I had my wife turn the key to start a few times while I read the voltages at the starter solenoid power supply and I am getting good voltage at this point. I may yet install the relay as a "just in case" but I really wanted to make sure the car would start as normal with solenoid refreshed.. I'll continue to monitor the hot hard start that I think I may have had but the good news is I think the cold start is worked out. Thanks for the guidance and advice as always.

 

I am thinking along the same lines. It's not broken right now so no need to fix it. I have good voltage to the solenoid and the starter spins when i turn the key so for now I am going to leave it as is.

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