Yesterday I went to start my car to move it out of the garage. I turned the car off the noticed that the start was making a constant vacuum cleaner noise. It was doing this with the key not turn in the on position. I then went to unhook the battery and the terminal was really hot. I unhooked it and went to work for the day. I came back and hooked the battery back up and the starter started to make that noise again. Today I went and hit the starter with a hammer and now the car starts fine and makes no noises while the car is shut off. Is my started crapping out on me? Why would the starter make noises with the key not even in the run position? It sounded like the solenoid was running but not kicking the starter in.

Rob

 

the cylinoid gets locked in the engaged position and that makes constant power go to the starter, whethere or not you are cranking. I beat mine with a hammer last year and it hasnt given me trouble sinse. It probably needs to be replaced, but thats expensive, lol.

 

"solenoid"