2000 Ford Explorer phantom starter problem

[raven64]

searched long and hard through the previous threads but didn't see anything like this one....

woke up at 3:00am to the sound of the clicking (like the sound of a car trying to be started with a nearly dead battery) then it changed to the sound of the starter grinding away, but not turning the engine over...when going to investigate my fiance found that it was my Explorer (still locked up tight). He got in, put the key in the ignition and got the engine to turn over....the starter kept grinding away though....even after he turned the engine off and pulled out the key.

I don't presume to know anything about vehicles (except where to put the gas), but my fiance can do a bit more than turn a wrench (having restored his 1969 Cougar). I'm just trying to be helpful by getting him some feedback about how to troubleshoot this.....

thanks bunches in advance for any help you can provide.

 

[Alec]

Welcome!

I'm thinking your starter solenoid on the fender is sticking shut, supplying juice to the starter.

 

[raven64]

phantom starter problem...again

Still need help on this.....can't be the starter solenoid on the fender, because this is an automatic (sorry for not including that info in my first post)

In the last month we have replaced the battery and the starter as both had issues.....but lo and behold, this morning my 2000 Explorer tried to start itself again. It was like someone was just holding the key on and it kept grinding away until my fiance went out and pulled the battery cable off.

Any ideas of what to check next that might cause my Explorer to try and start on its own after sitting parked all night in damp weather (those are the only two common factors in both incidences) My vehicle does not have an automatic starter and does have a passive theft system.

 

[RiverRat]

Originally posted by Alec
Welcome!

I'm thinking your starter solenoid on the fender is sticking shut, supplying juice to the starter.

That's my guess. Next guess would be a faulty ignition switch.