A new one for me!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 414
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
A new one for me!
I went to start the vette this morning; cranked like normal, engine fired off, but immediately heard grinding from the starter! I turn the key off and lo and behold, the motor keeps cranking!
I rush and disconnect the main line off the battery. By this time the post is hot to the touch.
visually I don’t see anything the matter, but I’ll take the starter off and do some continuity checks tomorrow. I’m assuming something internal failed.
Glad nothing caught fire. Cranked for close to a minute
I rush and disconnect the main line off the battery. By this time the post is hot to the touch.
visually I don’t see anything the matter, but I’ll take the starter off and do some continuity checks tomorrow. I’m assuming something internal failed.
Glad nothing caught fire. Cranked for close to a minute
CF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 19,366
Likes: 5,244
From: Cape Cod, Mass.
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist Unmodified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
It's most likely a bad starter solenoid. Had the exact same situation with my 65 last year. I replaced the starter and solenoid.
It is a bit of a panic situation. Fortunately, the ring gear (fly wheel) wasn't damaged. Starter drive was destroyed.
It is a bit of a panic situation. Fortunately, the ring gear (fly wheel) wasn't damaged. Starter drive was destroyed.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 414
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I just checked, resistance from solenoid terminal to the main terminal is 11kohm. Not sure what to make of that, but it’s not a dead short between the two.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,810
From: Cool Northern Michigan
Starter is likely ok. No need to run out and buy a $250 mini.
When you have the starter out, swap to a brown end cap solenoid. Those perform much better around heat. The brown ones are ceramic.
Put a dab of grease on the Bendix / shaft.
Might want to consider a battery shut-off switch for just these occasions. And prevents any parasitic draw.
When you have the starter out, swap to a brown end cap solenoid. Those perform much better around heat. The brown ones are ceramic.
Put a dab of grease on the Bendix / shaft.
Might want to consider a battery shut-off switch for just these occasions. And prevents any parasitic draw.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 414
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
It’s actually a GM mini lol
If it is bad I’ll try off brand made-in-china next. 1/3 of the price!
im going to do some testing tomorrow. route just 12volts to the solenoid, with main lug disconnected and see what happens
If it is bad I’ll try off brand made-in-china next. 1/3 of the price!
im going to do some testing tomorrow. route just 12volts to the solenoid, with main lug disconnected and see what happens
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
100% the solenoid......the solenoid does two jobs at the same time....it pushes the gear out....and it makes contact from the always hot starter lug to the one right below it which is the motor lead.......if the motor is stuck on, then the solenoid is stuck in the out position.....remove solenoid and look for corrosion or anything else that will make it hang up.....
Gotta get rid of those hang ups man.....LOL....
Jebby
Gotta get rid of those hang ups man.....LOL....
Jebby
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 414
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Yeah something internal musta failed.
I did some controlled testing with 12v just to the solenoid and then some with battery connected to main terminal. First try the bendix threw out, but I couldnt replicate the run-on issue, after a couple tries the starter would just spin without throwing out at all.
Assuming something failed and then the one minute constant cranking further degraded it.
New mini is on the way
I did some controlled testing with 12v just to the solenoid and then some with battery connected to main terminal. First try the bendix threw out, but I couldnt replicate the run-on issue, after a couple tries the starter would just spin without throwing out at all.
Assuming something failed and then the one minute constant cranking further degraded it.
New mini is on the way
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski