Starter "clicks" but does not turn over sometimes
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 427
Likes: 0
From: Cary Illinois
Starter "clicks" but does not turn over sometimes - Update
Based on some suggestions, I finally got around to putting in the shim on my rebuilt NAPA starter. It seemed to do a little good and the starter will normally crank on the first try. However, it still sometimes does not turn over and all I get is that annoying "click" sound in the starter. It's not the starter grinding or anything like that but a very audible "click" sound in the solenoid.
Could I have to throw a second shim in there to correct this problem? It's a brand new "remanufactured" starter and when it turns, it turns strong and fires right up.
What do you guys thing?
Could I have to throw a second shim in there to correct this problem? It's a brand new "remanufactured" starter and when it turns, it turns strong and fires right up.
What do you guys thing?
Last edited by Q's 68; May 30, 2006 at 02:12 PM. Reason: Update
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville FL
is it a metal grinding type click or more of a tapping sound? does the starter spin at all when you hear the clicking?
sounds like it could be your starter solenoid. it's either going bad or not getting enough juice.
check the voltage at your solenoid with a meter when you try to crank the engine and it is acting up. if it's good, replace the solenoid.
hope this helps,
Mike.
sounds like it could be your starter solenoid. it's either going bad or not getting enough juice.
check the voltage at your solenoid with a meter when you try to crank the engine and it is acting up. if it's good, replace the solenoid.
hope this helps,
Mike.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 2
From: Meriden CT
Originally Posted by mdj21
is it a metal grinding type click or more of a tapping sound? does the starter spin at all when you hear the clicking?
sounds like it could be your starter solenoid. it's either going bad or not getting enough juice.
check the voltage at your solenoid with a meter when you try to crank the engine and it is acting up. if it's good, replace the solenoid.
hope this helps,
Mike.
sounds like it could be your starter solenoid. it's either going bad or not getting enough juice.
check the voltage at your solenoid with a meter when you try to crank the engine and it is acting up. if it's good, replace the solenoid.
hope this helps,
Mike.
sounds like your low on juice, or the solenoid is starting to go on you.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
About the only thing that will do that is a solenoid, it is part of the starter assy. Remove the starter and disassemble it. Clean the sol contacts up with a light filing and reassemble it. Make sure the connection between the starter and the soleniod is good and clean. It is a short copper strap extending from the body of the starter and screwed to the inboard contact on the solenoid. I have fixed a bunch of them this way. Might as well clean it and paint it whilt it is out. Easy stuff, disconnect the battery pos before you start.
Good Luck
Good Luck
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 428
Likes: 1
From: West Des Moines Iowa
Originally Posted by Q's 68
Would this mean that the starter gear is misaligned? My original starter did not have the shim installed. I was thinking of maybe installing the shim to see if this corrects the problem.
It doesn't happen all the time, but every now and then, I get the "click" when I turn the key. After a try or two, she fires right up.
It doesn't happen all the time, but every now and then, I get the "click" when I turn the key. After a try or two, she fires right up.
Gonzo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 43
From: Eastern US XX
Originally Posted by Q's 68
Would this mean that the starter gear is misaligned? My original starter did not have the shim installed. I was thinking of maybe installing the shim to see if this corrects the problem.
It doesn't happen all the time, but every now and then, I get the "click" when I turn the key. After a try or two, she fires right up.
It doesn't happen all the time, but every now and then, I get the "click" when I turn the key. After a try or two, she fires right up.
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
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 427
Likes: 0
From: Cary Illinois
I'll give it a look over tonight. I'm thinking that the shim may do it because it cranks hard when it finally engages. Much better than the original starter. It does sound like the small gear is hitting out of alignment and when it finally moves a bit, it slips right in and does the job. Of course, it can't hurt to check juice and all connections.
Thanks for the input, guys.
Thanks for the input, guys.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Royse City tx
I had a '67 Mustang that would occassionally not start like that. I did a starter rebuild and it came good. I guess there was a dead spot on the armature and the rebuild cleared it up. There are of course a bazillion things that would cause a starter to do that but if your starter is original and hasn't been rebuilt it might need it. I would try cleaning the contacts at the starter and battery first then a rebuild. A rebuild isn't hard to do If you're mechanically inclined and it doesn't require any special tools. On a 1 to 10 difficulty scale, I'd give it a 3 or 4.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 281
Likes: 0
From: Brookfield IL
I agree with others-- check voltage, then suspect solenoid, then maybe a dead spot on the armature, then maybe a weak battery. If you suspect the battery-- one easy test is to connect a battery charger and see if it clears the problem.
If it is a bad spot on the starter-- sometimes you can tap the starter with a hammer to move it off the dead spot and try to start it again to see if it helps.
Another less likely culprit is a ground. I bought a Harley once that always started hard, and sometimes not at all. I eventually found that the wire to the solenoid was pinched and touching the frame. So whenever I hit the starter circuit, most of the current was going straight to ground and this made the actuation of the solenoid coil very marginal.
I doubt this is your problem, but if everything else checks out you have to start looking at less obvious things like this.
If it is a bad spot on the starter-- sometimes you can tap the starter with a hammer to move it off the dead spot and try to start it again to see if it helps.
Another less likely culprit is a ground. I bought a Harley once that always started hard, and sometimes not at all. I eventually found that the wire to the solenoid was pinched and touching the frame. So whenever I hit the starter circuit, most of the current was going straight to ground and this made the actuation of the solenoid coil very marginal.
I doubt this is your problem, but if everything else checks out you have to start looking at less obvious things like this.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,804
Likes: 4
From: Standing still with all my might Texas
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09-'11
I had two starters do the same thing to me 
ing on them worked about half the time. It turned out to be bad spots on the armetures in both cases. One of those starters was a fairly new Delco rebuilt 
Another thing to check is the engine to frame ground (It will be either a cable or a strap by the passenger side motor mount), if that is bad it could cause similar problems.
ing on them worked about half the time. It turned out to be bad spots on the armetures in both cases. One of those starters was a fairly new Delco rebuilt Another thing to check is the engine to frame ground (It will be either a cable or a strap by the passenger side motor mount), if that is bad it could cause similar problems.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 427
Likes: 0
From: Cary Illinois
Thanks. I checked the ground and it's in great shape with a nice tight fit. I'm thinking I'll just trade this starter in for another one. I got the lifetime warranty so it will just cost me a bit of time.
