Starting System

Starting system components form 2 separate circuits. A high-amperage feed circuit that feeds starter motor high-amperage, and a low-amperage control circuit that operates on less than 20 amperes. The high-amperage feed circuit components include battery, battery cables, contact disc portion of starter solenoid, and starter motor. The low-amperage control circuit components include ignition switch, Park/Neutral position switch (automatic transmission), starter motor relay, electromagnetic windings of starter solenoid, and connecting wire harness components.

As all models are equipped with automatic transmission, battery voltage is supplied through low-amperage control circuit to coil battery terminal of starter motor relay when ignition switch is turned to momentary START position. The Park/Neutral position switch is installed in series between starter motor relay coil ground terminal and ground. This normally open switch prevents starter motor relay from being energized and starter motor from operating unless automatic transmission gear selector is in Neutral or Park positions.

When starter motor relay coil is energized, normally open relay contacts close. The relay contacts connect relay common feed terminal to relay normally open terminal. The closed relay contacts energize starter solenoid coil windings.

The energized solenoid pull-in coil pulls in solenoid plunger. The solenoid plunger pulls shift lever in starter motor. This engages starter overrunning clutch and pinion gear with starter ring gear on automatic transmission torque converter or torque converter drive plate.

As solenoid plunger reaches end of its travel, solenoid contact disc completes high-amperage starter feed circuit and energizes solenoid plunger hold-in coil. Current now flows between solenoid battery terminal and starter motor, energizing starter.

Once engine starts, overrunning clutch protects starter motor from damage by allowing starter pinion gear to spin faster than pinion shaft. When ignition switch is released to ON position, starter motor relay coil is de-energized. This causes relay contacts to open. When relay contacts open, starter solenoid plunger hold-in coil is de-energized.

When solenoid plunger hold-in coil is de-energized, solenoid plunger return spring returns plunger to its relaxed position. This causes contact disc to open starter feed circuit, and shift lever to disengage overrunning clutch and pinion gear from starter ring gear.