Starter Solenoid Problem?

[AE86less]

I went to go and return some videos on Saturday but didn't get very far. As soon as the car started (Which has been quite difficult lately, particularly when warm) there was an odd whining noise. I drove about 2 blocks and the noise didn't go away so I stopped and popped the hood to have a listen, I couldn't identify it straight away so I turned the engine off (key was taken out) but the whine kept going. I thought "uh oh", and wriggled off the battery terminal and the noise stopped. After talking to an engineer friend of my dad's he suggested the starter solenoid was stuck.

Recently I have had to replace the battery, and I also changed the starter motor (thinking that it was the cause of the hard start problem, it was actually the capacity of the battery) from a generic one to a very high km genuine one. I have also noticed that the positive battery terminal has been getting very hot.

Taking into account the info above does it sound like the starter solenoid? I'm asking because I need to get it fixed asap as the car is my daily and I have no access to another vehicle. I'm not going to pretend that I know how the starter solenoid works or where it is (I'm guessing it's on the starter though?).

I'd also like to get some opinions on suspension. What I have ready to go into the car are TRD Springs and a Twos'r'us urethane kit and I'm trying to decide which shocks to go for, considering that the car is my daily that sometimes sees track use. Would people go for new TGP inserts or TRD?

Cheers in advance

[AE86less]

Ok, I realise that this may be an idiot question for most people, but I am stuck.

Is anyone willing to hazard a guess? Do you think it's the solenoid?

[Bling]

can you put the generic starter back in?

if you are running a high km one at the moment maybe its stuffed

[AE86less]

I was just starting on putting the generic one back in... and burnt my hand on the exhaust manifold

Maybe i'll wait a while...

[gepsk8]

get auto sparly to check out ur starter,
the one the didn't spin 2 blocks of driving, ingaged to engine,
telling him what happened.

[AE86less]

Sorry, I understood that I should get an autosparky to check the starter and tell him what happened but I didn't get the middle bit.

Well I am sure that the starter not disengaging is the problem but i'm not 100% sure why.

I just went to go and change the starter again and straight away noticed that the little metal bracket thing that comes off the big bolt from the solenoid (and has a plug to it, see my lack of electrical knowledge?) was verrry loose. Could that cause a problem?



[/img]

EDIT: Obviously that would cause a problem, but would it cause this problem?

[gepsk8]

normal, will tighten up when bolts on there,
he will tell u if starters clutch (might need to check ur ring gear) or soliod caused it, then check old one while its off, as i might do the same.

[matt dunn]

More likely you have a faulty ignition switch,

is it free to turn from on to start, and does it spring back properly by itself?

[AE86less]

It is free to turn on from start and yes it springs back.

Is it still possible that it's the ignition failing?