Help! My starter's making a horrible buzzing noise...

I tried starting my Tiger Supercat today for the first time in about 3 weeks and it was just about to come to life when the a noise started coming from the starter motor.

The starter motor solenoid was humming loudly and drawing a current. This continued even when the keys were removed from the ignition so the only way to stop the noise was to disconnect the battery.

For those interested the loom is the Tiger 6 fuse loom and a solenoid isolater switch has been installed (a rudimentary security device - the switch is hidden from view). Is the starter faulty or has part of the loom come loose, or something else?

It soon got too dark outside to have a proper look and I wont be able to look at the car for the next few days. Any advice though in the meantime would be much appreciated.

Cheers,

Dom

i would guess that considering it didnt stop when the keys were out but did when battery was disconnected theres a mix up in your loom somewhere. Or faulty ignition barrel. The starter should be getting any power what so ever when keys are out.

Easiest way to diagnose would be to disconnect the small wire at that activates solonoid when the fault is occuring. If starter stops working then the fault is in the wiring/ switch if not it is the starter solonoid.

I would go along with Rusty Nuts sounds about right to me, should not be getting any activity at the starter with the keys out, Hence faulty ignition switch.

I reckon it'll be the solenoid that's knackered. The starter would keep running (working normally) if the small terminal was being kept live, it shouldn't buzz.

However one problem may have lead to the 2nd if a fault has caused the starter to run continuously for too long it may also be knackered as well now.
Just my 2ps worth

Thanks for your replies.

I haven't had chance to have a look at it yet but at least i now know where to start.

Cheers,

Dom