Starter motor help please.

[shakman87]

I have just replaced the starter motor on my MK2 GTI 8V. When I connect the battery terminals up, the starter motor just spins!

Can someone tell me where I've gone wrong and what I need to correct?

I have connected the following on the solenoid:

Starter motor to battery connected on the lower bolt
Starter motor to alternator? connected on upper bolt
and the red/black wire connected to the spade terminal closest to the gearbox.

Any help is much appreciated - thanks.

[clipperjay]

Two options give back that starter motor and get a newer one!
Check your ignition switch its not stuck on turn over.
 

[shakman87]

Sorry if this is a bit obvious, but how do I check the ignition switch?

Thanks

[clipperjay]

The proper way is to take plastic cowl off unplug (white plug with black jack plug) it and check for the continuity of each turn, plus check your dash lights to see if they all disapear after turning the engine on.

Hard to say mate..... but from what I know there is a constant 12V to the starter, but its switch from the spade is what starts it and cuts it out after a few seconds?
Usually if the ignition switch is broken there is no voltage on the spade to open the contacts to allow the solenoid to be powered up. What I'm thinking is your solenoid is sticking open and its got constant 12V to the spade and turning the starter on all the time? 
Hence send it back whom ever you bought it from?

If you have a voltmeter you could check if all contacts on the starter has continuty on all the contacts becuase that spade should be switchable only from ignition. If all contacts beep then something is stuck and you have constant open circuit!
 

[rubjonny]

both the starter and alt wires connect to the same place on the starter motor, sounds liek you are putting one of them on the back of the solenoid or something?  the red/black wire is the trigger for the starter and solenoid, this should be connected to the spade terminal marked '50'

if you take the motor off but leave the wires on, watch what it does when you have a helper turn the key, the gear should pop out then spin.  hold it firmly these starters dont half kick 

[shakman87]

Thanks for the help chaps!

I've got it all sorted now.

Turns out I needed a negative connection to the solenoid. (The spade terminal closest to the gearbox now has a cable running straight to the battery - )

The red/black trigger wire is connected to the spade terminal closest to the fan.

The battery + is now connected to the top bolt along with the alternator lead.

Bottom bolt is not connected to anything, just has a gold plate linking it to the starter motor.

I got the starter motor from Volkspares in Croydon - So if anyone needs a wiring reference they can always check back here.

[rubjonny]

hmm that does not sound right at all, pics?

[clipperjay]

Sounds like a twin spade unit has been made to fit a 8Ver?

[rubjonny]

twin spade unit is k-jet, 2nd spade is starter motor live output for the cold start, not an earth