95 Chevy Astro Starter Problem

[stank]

Hi

I have a 95 Chevy Astro 4.3L that has been been showing signs of what i thought was either corroded terminals or bad battery.

The van has been starting, but turns over really slow and almost not at all. Today when we brought it to town to do some shopping we started it back up and it would not stop turning the engine over even with the key turned back, jiggled etc and finally pulled right out of the igintion. I finally got the battery disconnected i could see smoke or steam coming from the battery. I kept trying to start it after that when rehooking the battery up and the same thing was happening....the starter would keep trying to turn the engine over until it was almost dead.

I waited almost 1/2 an hour again rehooking up the battery and was able to get it running. I drove it home and tested the battery terminals running @ 14.50v. Shut off with out terminals hooked up, it was reading 13.20v battery seems good. I tried starting it again and it turned over and started with the starter still trying to run ...Same thing Again!

Not sure if i have a starter problem or What? Any help would be appreciated!!

TIA DAn

[FIREDOG]

sounds like the contacts in the starter solenoid stuck together. I think it would be best to replace the starter.