Starter doesn't even click
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Starter doesn't even click
Help! I am new to owning my '78 vette and am quickly wishing I was more of a mechanic.
The weather has been hot so I drove the car a ton last week and through the weekend. Then on Sunday night when I went to put it away, it wouldn't start. The starter isn't engaging at all. No "grrrrr", no click, nothing. I turn the key to the start position and everything goes quiet. The battery is brand new and I checked the connection was solid to the battery and the starter. The dash lights, accessories, etc.. all work strong when I turn the key on.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
The weather has been hot so I drove the car a ton last week and through the weekend. Then on Sunday night when I went to put it away, it wouldn't start. The starter isn't engaging at all. No "grrrrr", no click, nothing. I turn the key to the start position and everything goes quiet. The battery is brand new and I checked the connection was solid to the battery and the starter. The dash lights, accessories, etc.. all work strong when I turn the key on.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,255
Likes: 82
From: Brampton Ont.
CAinMN someone earlier in the year had the same problem, click on the link below and follow the thread.
Good luck
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1069516
Good luck
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1069516
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 561
Likes: 0
Nice looking car.....
Regarding the starter. Usually a starter will give you signs it is wearing and needs replacement. It sounds to me like you have an electrical issue here. In other words, no power / signal is getting to your starter.
Take an hour to check if you even have power to your starter and work back from there.......lastly and most ugly is an ignition problem in your column. If Im a betting man, I'd say its electrical and an easy fix.
78 Owner
Edmonton Alberta
Take an hour to check if you even have power to your starter and work back from there.......lastly and most ugly is an ignition problem in your column. If Im a betting man, I'd say its electrical and an easy fix.
78 Owner
Edmonton Alberta
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Welcome...you may have a problem with the solenoid spring...mine did exactly like yours several years ago...replaced spring,and all was well....you can try jumping across starter terminals (screw driver) just to turn engine...then jump in it to start it...I did that till we thought of spring...(always happened after a drive...)
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 494
Likes: 2
From: rockwall tx
i just had the same problem and it was a bad spot on the armiture. took it it to be tested and it worked fine but when it would land on the bad spot - nothing. when it happened as soon as i hooked up jumper cables it would fire right off. bought a new starter and havent had any problems in 3 weeks. but also check the battery cables too.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 1
From: grand prairie texas
Originally Posted by jlaw68
i just had the same problem and it was a bad spot on the armiture. took it it to be tested and it worked fine but when it would land on the bad spot - nothing. when it happened as soon as i hooked up jumper cables it would fire right off. bought a new starter and havent had any problems in 3 weeks. but also check the battery cables too.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,665
Likes: 1
From: Ontario
Put your voltmeter between ground and the start wire on the solenoid & get a friend to turn the key to start. If you don't have 11V or more it could be any of the following: loose/dirty connections, the keyswitch, clutch/neutral switch, broken/shorted wiring, aftermarket alarm starter kill relay/kill switch in series. You may notice it gets worse when hot; this is becuase copper (wire) gets more electrically resistive as temp goes up. The solenoid needs a good 15 amps to pull in so if you have any resistance in this path you won't even get a click. If you have 11V or more the solenoid is your problem. 
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Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
I just got over the exact same problem as everyone here. I even jumped it off another car and it fired right up. But after i tried all of this and it still happened i bought a new alternator and haven't had a problem since. The alternator wasn't running the car so the battery could charge up, so after i drove it, i would sometimes get a click or sometimes nothing at all, yet the lights and everything would work. So maybe after you try the above suggestions, don't rule out your alternator.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 911
Likes: 5
From: TN
Starter Fixes
Another problem with starter solenoids that is a real easy fix is the main electrical contact that the battery cable connects to wears. This can be changed with the starter on the car. Disconnect the battery positive cable at the battery. Then remove the battery cable from starter solenoid. Next loosen the nut that retains this stud to the solenoid. Now turn the stud 180 degrees and tighten the retaining nut and install the batttey cable on the starter and the battery. What this procedure provides is a new surface contact area. Only 1/2 of the surface area of this electrical contact area is used in solenoid functions. This may not solve your problem. Another non start problem I experienced was starter brush wear. I changed out my starter solenoid in a parking lot once becasue my 70 would not start. What the real problem was that the starter brushes had worn down so far they were not getting good contact. Still have the same starter for 35 years, just new brushes about 15 years ago. If your starter is the original one on your car and you want to keep your car "number matching" don't trade in your starter.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
"Next loosen the nut that retains this stud to the solenoid. Now turn the stud 180 degrees and tighten the retaining nut and install the batttey cable on the starter and the battery. What this procedure provides is a new surface contact area."
Just added that one to my list of "things" to do....have original starter...thanks..
Just added that one to my list of "things" to do....have original starter...thanks..
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
PROBLEM RESOLVED!!!!!
Thank you everyone for your advice.
After trying many of the suggestions, I pulled the starter (which was much easier than I anticipated) and brought it in for testing. It immediately failed the test.
I put in a new starter and was off and driving. The new starter turns the engine over much faster and has made for easier starting.
Thank you everyone for your advice.
After trying many of the suggestions, I pulled the starter (which was much easier than I anticipated) and brought it in for testing. It immediately failed the test.
I put in a new starter and was off and driving. The new starter turns the engine over much faster and has made for easier starting.
