Starter keeps cranking engine after starting.

[The1Dan]

My 2004 Cayenne S starter will not stop cranking engine. at first it was random. then it started doing it more and more. every now and then it would start up and run bad. i would have to sit and let it run like it was cold and needed to warm up. i live in arizona where its always warm, so that was ridiculous. after a few minutes it the idle would correct itself. the more the starter wouldnt stop cranking the more it ran bad on start up. i thought the starter was going bad so i replaced it. that didnt work either. brand new starter and it still wont stop cranking engine. i know that the power is diverted to the starter to start car and once it starter the relay shuts of the power to starter and it goes back to the everything else. i replaced the starter relay as well. i have repaired the wiring under drivers floor as well thinking that was the problem. i did the "reset" on the steering lock as well. checked all the fuses. replaced the relay for ECU. ignition switch is working. battery is new and fully charged. no codes to go off of. what is it that i am missing. the engine will start up and the starter will keep cranking. its a pain to remove everything to change the starter. its going to ruin something if i cant stop it from doing that. 

[The1Dan]

i take it nobody has any idea why my starter keeps running after engine starts up. 

wonderful...

[JFP in PA]

12 hours ago, The1Dan said:

i take it nobody has any idea why my starter keeps running after engine starts up. 

wonderful...

Difficult to analyze remotely; could be something sticking like the ignition switch or starter relay; but either would require more diagnostics................

[RFM]

As indicated by JFP, further diagnostics are needed. There's an electronic system between the ignition switch and the starter motor that requires a signal to determine whether the engine is running or not, this is likely the source of the problem. The starter motor will continue run for about six seconds, even after releasing the ignition key, if this signal is missing. This can be tested by: running the engine, removing the fuel pump fuses and allowing the engine to stall on its own, restarting the engine, and releasing the ignition key just as the starter motor engages. You'll that the starter motor will run for about six seconds, and then stop due to the lack of a signal. Hope it helps a bit. 

[The1Dan]

so the starter will continue to crank the engine for six seconds and then shut off if it doesnt receive the signal. the whole time the engine is trying to start. does that mean the engine will not start as well because of no signal? what is the signal from and is it a hassle to fix. 

 

[RFM]

To start with, you need an electrical diagram to check all the points, a more than decent multimeter and a PIWIS to go deeper if necessary, otherwise it will remain a guessing game.