starter solenoid

my starter solenoid keep burning up . first time my jeep just quit running and i check the book and it say to check the coil + feed and if it is 6 volt or higher change the starter solenoid..I did and it started and ran great for six month and it did again. change the solenoid and running great again ... What wrong ? cj 1979 with a 304 and AMC solid state Ignition..everything is stock..Can'nt keep changing the starter solenoid every six month?..Thanks in advance 1951..cj3a..1974..cj5..1979..cj7

 

This is the solenoid on the fenderwell? My Jeep OEM solenoid lasted 29 years, and I recently replaced it with Standard. Get a good brand, like Standard Motor Products (SMP), or maybe NAPA branded. The cheapies won't last very long. There's not much to burn it up - it's basically a relay that operates on full battery voltage always. If you open it, you'll find a copper disk that makes the contact for the starter between the two big posts. The starter draws a lot of amps, so that contact needs to be good quality. The ground for the actual solenoid coil that makes the starter contact runs through the solenoid base and the fender, so make sure the base is well grounded. You can add a wire from the base bolt to the battery ground cable, frame or engine block if you suspect that the fender is not well grounded.

 

I'd make sure all the wires on it are clean and tight before replacing. Maybe its a loose wire or dirty connection, and when you replace it, it gets a good enough connection to work for a while.

 

Yes it's one on the fender and I got a good one (standard p/n SS581 )..all wire look clean but I will clean them just to make sure ...has anyone see this before. This is really bugging me, can't figure it out. Will put an another ground wire too.Thanks

 

how about your cable to your starter? loose connection there could cause resistance, which could lead to your problem.