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[DC]

My other car is a VW Golf Cabrio GLi (1.8 injection) from 1983 with 75k miles on the clock. This winter I started experiencing an electrical problem, which I first contributed to cold whether – the starter continues working when the engine is on. More importantly it continues even when I pull the key out and when it happens the only way to stop it is to disconnect the battery. After some consultations I came to a conclusion that culprit is a faulty lock – I had it replaced but the problem persisted. So next I changed a starter relay but to no avail – still the same. It has to be said though, it doesn’t happen every time I start the car, which is not that often anyway, but is more than 50% of times. Does anyone have a clue what else I should look into?

[iainb]

This sounds like the starter bendix is holding the gear after the engine has started.
So remove starter and check the gear for damage and the flywheel ring.
Also check the selonoid for full operation, i.e. the gear moves forward and back fully

[DC]

I thought about that, but if it was gearing issue, surely the starter would stop working after switching the engine off? Or am I wrong?

[Vamps]

This sounds like the starter bendix is holding the gear after the engine has started.
So remove starter and check the gear for damage and the flywheel ring.
Also check the selonoid for full operation, i.e. the gear moves forward and back fully

What he said, sticky bendix / solenoid.

[Vamps]

I thought about that, but if it was gearing issue, surely the starter would stop working after switching the engine off? Or am I wrong?

Sticky solenoid, not releasing so live so keeps going

[iainb]

TBH............you dont want to think of the alternative.
Thats fried wire's

[DC]

Now I understand. Sorry, English is not my first language, thus a bit of trouble with technical terms. Will have a look at the solenoid. Thanks a lot!

[Ken T]

Yes, I think they use a pre engaged starter where a solenoid pushes the starter cog into mesh with the ring gear on the flywheel, and this operates a contact that feeds the power to the starter motor. If the starter cog mechanism is jammed, then it will stay engaged  and hence energised. I'm sure my first beetle 30 years ago had a pre engaged starter.

Ken

[Ken T]

Oh I forgot, the feed to the starter is high, lots of amps, so they only switch it via the starter solenoid contacts, so it will go all the time. Lots of electrons all trying to escape at the same time, and going down the easiest path  

ken