Solenoid issue?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 798
Likes: 30
From: Alberta/Missouri....... depending when.
Solenoid issue?
So I went to start my '66 on the week-end and it was dead. Charged the battery (took very little charge) and still nothing. I checked the ignition switch and have power to the start circuit when the key is engaged, I have power on both sides of the ballast resistor. Last night as I was checking the ignition switch I did get the car to turn-over and start, shut the key off and then on again and nothing. Still have power on start circuit when key engaged. Does this sound like a bad solenoid on the starter? The starter was replaced last year and probably has 500miles on it.
Any suggestions/advice would be appreciated.
Allan
Any suggestions/advice would be appreciated.
Allan
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 26,118
Likes: 1,874
From: Greenville, Indiana
How did you determine the battery was dead and how do you know it took very little charge?
When you turn the key to "start", do you hear any noise?
Based on a little bit of information, it sounds like loose and/or dirty cable connections or a shorted battery.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 798
Likes: 30
From: Alberta/Missouri....... depending when.
Two questions.
How did you determine the battery was dead and how do you know it took very little charge?
When you turn the key to "start", do you hear any noise?
Based on a little bit of information, it sounds like loose and/or dirty cable connections or a shorted battery.
How did you determine the battery was dead and how do you know it took very little charge?
When you turn the key to "start", do you hear any noise?
Based on a little bit of information, it sounds like loose and/or dirty cable connections or a shorted battery.
I assumed the battery was dead. Put a charger on it and showed fully charged within 10 minutes. It's a smart charger that shows battery % charged, volts, amperage depending on what you select. Voltage across the posts are above 13 volts (Checked with a multi-meter). Posts are clean and a new power cable to starter was installed last fall. All accessories work, headlights, radio, etc. Just no starter engagement when I turn the key. When it did start last night the solenoid clicked......engaged the starter again and the car started. Shut it down, turned the key again and nothing. I thought maybe my ignition switch had given in hence me checking power with a test light onto the start terminal. I have power there when the key is engaged. It's just weird the car started last night and then was "dead" again. Dead is probably not a good description...... unwilling to engage the starter would be a better description
Allan
Last edited by Al T; May 26, 2011 at 12:23 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 19,777
Likes: 4,592
From: Canada's capital
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C1 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I'm waiting for answers too, my car is doing the same thing. I replaced the solenoid and it worked fine for a while, now nothing, no click, nothing? Battery full, everything else works....
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 26,118
Likes: 1,874
From: Greenville, Indiana
Usually, when starter solenoids start to fail, they will "click" without turning the starter motor. Sometimes it'll start the car and sometimes just "click". Eventually, all they will do is "click"! When that happens, the end of the big copper stud is worn to the point it won't make contact with the like armature contact and the starter won't turn even though the solenoid is still pulling in.
Another failure would be when the solenoid is not pulling in at all and it wouldn't make any noise.
If you turn the headlights on high beam, turn the blower motor on and blow the horn and the horn is good and loud and the headlights don't dim too much, I'd guess you have a bad solenoid and the rest of the wiring and connections and battery is good.
Another failure would be when the solenoid is not pulling in at all and it wouldn't make any noise.
If you turn the headlights on high beam, turn the blower motor on and blow the horn and the horn is good and loud and the headlights don't dim too much, I'd guess you have a bad solenoid and the rest of the wiring and connections and battery is good.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 798
Likes: 30
From: Alberta/Missouri....... depending when.
I'll get under the car this week-end and check for power at the solenoid while the key is (or should be) engaging the starter. If I have power at the solenoid, I'll assume a bad solenoid. Hard to believe that when the starter/solenoid is just about brand new. Aaarghhh!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,612
Likes: 379
From: Oceanside CA
I would be suspicious that the ignition switch may be the culprit based on it working then not working. You can bypass the ignition switch by jumping between two terminals on the solenoid directly but I don't have that information here at the office. Someone else could chime in on that. My $.02
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,191
Likes: 951
From: Corpus Christi, TX
If you want to do a test like Dave Tracy suggested, separate the connector on the 12 gauge purple wire located near the ballast resistor and connect the passsenger side with a jumper wire to the battery + terminal. If you have PG instead of a 4-spd, you may have a faulty park/neutral start switch. This same test will help you isolate that, too.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 798
Likes: 30
From: Alberta/Missouri....... depending when.
Crawled under the car this evening (with jack stands) and had my son turn the key. I had power at the solenoid when the key was in the start position. Tapped on the solenoid and the starter engaged...... bad solenoid. I'll take the solenoid off the starter I replaced a year and a half ago due to the broken starter nose and throw this solenoid away. Thanks to all.
Allan
Allan