RF1979C3

Hello all, have been away from the forum for a couple months, lots going on. Anyway, I went to start my '79 Saturday morning to take it to a local car show, when I went to start the engine it tried to turn over then I got a "clunk" sound. This cannot be good. I ran the car Wednesday with no issues. The lights come on, power windows work, but the engine will not even try to turn over, you try to start the car and you get nothing. Guys not trying to sound like an idiot, but I have never had this happen before. I think it is the starter, any other ideas on things to check? Thanks

77vetteluva

Yep....Starter. If your sure your battery is good!

RF1979C3

Yeah, tried a jump box. Same result. Lights, power windows, no start. This looks like it is going to be a fun job.

7T1vette

Could be as simple as the starter solenoid has crapped out. A failed starter is really pretty rare. Lots of them get changed out when the solenoid is the real problem.

atthemattin

You could just try and hotwire it by bypassing the soleniod. That would be the fastest way to see if its just the noid. I've done it when I was broken down, although I would use something other than a screw driver.

jesse10886

Every one should owne one of these

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt...tch-35448.html

For $15 they are amazing keep it in the box behind the seat makes cake work of diagnosing the starter. Also nice if your out to eat and the solenoid decides to go bad on you. No need for a row truck or to change the part in a parking lot. Great tool mine is a snap on but it is the same idea

7T1vette

That device will not turn the starter over directly. It is a 'substitute' for the ignition switch. It connects to the starter solenoid and only activates the solenoid. That item is nice to have in a shop when you want to start the car frequently when it's up on a lift.

jesse10886

if you connect it to the solenoid and it just spins without actuating the starter gear to the fly wheel then you have diagnosed a bad solenoid.

C3 4ME

sometimes tapping on the starter with hammer will get it to turn.

24695bob

LOL..I used to keep a small hammer in my 56 6 cylc Chevy just to do that back in the early 60's when i was in college and could not afford to put gas in the car ..(beer budget was always larger then the car budget)

that said :
Try to turn your dash lights on before you turn the key....if they dim but the starter does not do anything replace the solenoid its drawing way too much current


If you have a HOT START problems replace the spring in the solenoid with a light weight spring ACDelco #1958679 they used to cost less then 5 bucks at your Chevy dealer. Learned that trick from a young lady who was a crew cheif on her husbands race car many years ago...

Bob G

Bob G.

7T1vette

Well, at least you actually learned that most "starter problems" are really starter solenoid problems.

RF1979C3

Thanks guys. Looks like it is the solenoid.