When you wash the car or it gets out in the rain the starter just starts turning over on it's on. I pulled the starter and checked it and it was fine so the problem is somewhere else. Also the services traction controll light comes on and the tach stops working. I checked the wiring to the starter and it is staying hot all the time like your holding the switch over. For now I just unhooked the wire from thestarter and installed a push botton switch and everthing seems to be working fine. But I have been unable to determind what iscausing the problems when I wash it or drive it in the rain. If anybody has a clue what to check please help. THANKS in advance.

 

Had a similar problem. I took it to the car wash popped the hood and pressure washed it. Is your hood open? Something to do wih the distibutor area? Your wire stays hot? Why dont you have yoru starter tested...?

 

bigjohn, it's not a problem with the starter motor, you need to look for a problem in the wiring and relays that control the starter. Apparently water is causing a short to ground or a short from a hot wire or terminal to the wiring that controls the starter relay.

 

You have a theft deterrent relay that has both sides of the relay (coil and load) powered by the ignition switch. Coil side goes through your park neutral switch and load side goes directly to relay. If you are referrinf\g to the purple wire to the starter, it comes directly from theft deterrent relay which is being enabled by the central control module behind the center of the instrument panel which controls the anti theft system and that might be where your problem lays. Might need to take it to someone with a good scan tool and check for body control module codes. [8D]

 

Thanks mech259 I was talking about the purple wire that runs to the starter. I will take it in to have it checked.