Yes it does engage the gear so I did wire the two solonoids in parallel on the activation wire but I disconected the battery cable from its' normal input side of the mazda solonoid and put it on the side that has the cable going to the motor. This way (I thought) no current is going through the mazda solonoid contacts.  In spite of my being convinced this would solve the problem, I regret to say there is no change: stays running after starter switch opened.

So doesn't this have to mean that power is getting from the contacts to the coil of the solonoid???.

Peter

 

Peter,

 

    I presume you have ruled out any problem with the disengagement spring on the starter that pulls it back from the fly wheel after the power is removed.  If not,  the starter may remain engaged even though there is no power to it.  If a Mazda starter, power to the solonoid drives a lever which pushes the gear out to mesh with the flywheel.  There is a spring in the solonoid that is suppose to retract the gear drive by pulling back once the power is removed.  If broken or stuck then the starter will not readily disengage even without power or if the lever arm that actually engages the starter shaft is binding you could have the same problem.  Adding another solonoid in parallel won't help - if this is the problem.

 

 

Ed Anderson