Howdy- Recently on a trip down to Orlando from Athens, GA (about 500 miles) my started bolts backed out during the drive and the starter could not engage the ring gear. Luckily, I broke down near my aunt and uncle's house in Macon and he's a car guy. Starter was retorqued (by the way a GM disk brake caliper tool in stock at most auto parts stores, 3/8 hex socket, will fit the 10mm starter bolts) Everything was cool until the return trip- at 70 mph the starter engaged! What a sound- we were 2 1/2 hours away from Orlando so I decided to not turn off the engine and see if things would "work themselves out" I know, bad but I was trying to get bak in time to play a show. We drove all the way home, engine running even while refueling. Sure enough the starter quit making the noise... When we got home I pulled it and it was grinded down. However, my gamble paid off and the ring gear was not damaged! I went down to AutoDrone and they actually had a rebuilt Bosch starter for $79.00 and it was in stock (wow). I installed it (on a non-turbo '81 with the ACCIII system you can actually just squeeze that starter though from the TOP) The battery was dead (it sat for a few days but may have something to do with the mystery). I recharged the battery but when I went to reattach the positive terminal the STARTER STARTED RUNNING on its OWN. The car did not start. I immediately pulled the cable. I reattached it and the second time it did nothing. I got in the car and it started normally. I tried it three more times and it seemed fine. The next morning I went to start the car and the starter kept on running. I jumped out and disconnected the cable once again. I waited a second and then reconnected it. It worked fine! My question is- could this be an ignition switch problem? As far as I know there's only 2 wires to the starter- the main battery power and the thin wire from the ignition switch that controls the solenoid. Any other ideas? Sorry for the novel but I figured I'd provide as much info as possible!

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~Sugi
1983 300DT
1964 Triumph TR4 (back in the stable after 18 years- same car!)
2004 Pontiac Vibe
1986 Honda Elite CH250
1971 F100