I have a 1994 camaro z-28 with a LT1 engine. My original starter crapped out and i replaced it with one from napa. my car started fine and then died on a side street. i tried to restart my car and the starter stayed spinning. I disconnected my battery and tapped on the started a couple of time with a rubber mallet. This did not help. As soon as i touched the battery cable to the positive terminal, the started was spinning still. . . . what do i do ? where do i start..any information would be so helpful.. thanks bill

 

Even though you have turned your key off, if the switch inside the solenoid is stuck on and is allowing power to flow from the lead coming directly from the battery, to the big lead going to the starter motor, it will keep spinning, as long as, the switch allows the voltage to flow.When you turn the ignition switch to start,usually 2 things will happen, the solenoid engages allowing drive gear to turn motor over and (2) theres a switch in there that allows power to flow from the battery cable to starter motor wire. If that switch doesn't disengage when you let off the key and go to run or off position, your starter motor will run run as soon as it gets voltage (Or whats happens when you touch the positive cable), or at least till the batt goes dead or the starter burns up as these motors are made for intermittently starting. This is because if the switch is stuck the starter drive stays engaged also. Of course you need to check out if the purple wire to the solenoid is getting power after the start position is released on ignition switch. You can hook a test light to purple wire with long enough wires to see from drivers seat. Every time you go to the start position the light will turn on. See what the light does when starter runs on. If light goes out when starter runs on, its the switch in the solenoid. If the test light stays on when starter turns over, theres a problem in the ignition switch, ignition lock, or it could be bad wiring.

If all else fails you may have to replace the starter along with the solenoid as it could be a problem with the bendix drive,or what moves the bendix to the flywheel, when was it replaced? the bendix gears cannot be retrieved from the flywheel if the teeth are worn.

Edited and cited from http://www.ls1lt1.com/forum/general-...-ignition.html

Hope this helps

 

You told me it was a couple weeks old, have you tried the test light? I would remove it and bring it to your local auto parts store, they should be able to test it for you.

 

Sounds more like the starter was hooked up incorrectly...

I had the same exact problem after my header swap. There are two wires that connect to the starter. If I remember correctly, there should be a thin purple/black negative wire with a flange and a larger red positive wire that screw into the back. The flange on the terminal of the negative wire should not face the positive wire's terminal or else it will make contact and spin the starter every time you connect your battery.

Check your starter wires and make sure they're not touching.