Buffalo Dude

Assuming I can get all the parts in one go, how hard is it to replace a starter? I think mine's toast and my car won't start, just kinda tries to turn over, then starts clicking. Not the battery cause AAA had a guy out to try to jump it with no luck.

Fubba

Probably your solenoid. But if you want to change the whole starter out, I can do it in about 10 minutes. But that was after about 8 times in a couple of days trying to get a faulty starter to work. Probably about 30 minutes for you if you've never done it before including getting the tools together and stuff.

midyear1

You might want to check the battery and ground cables for clean tight connections first , before you start removing and replacing the starter. And if you do change out the starter , be sure to check the Bendix gear engagement with the ring gear , and shim as needed.

wombvette

Typically when it turns over and then starts clicking, its the battery or connections, not the starter. I would make absolutely sure the battery is good, like replace it with a new one. They are cheap.

Jims79

After you check the battery & grounds to make sure they are good try tapping the starter w/a hammer & try to start. Tap not drive home a 10 penny nail. If it is the starter buy a mini-starter or OEM replacement and replace it. Its a one hour job, two if its your first time. Easy I changed many, two on the side of a road/parking lot. G/L

75 Red Vert

Just one thing before you go changing that starter.

After you have tried starting the car and it has gone to the clicking, open the battery compartment and feel both battery cables. If one of the cables is hot, could be that your starter is not getting enough umph from the battery to start the car. Check the connections.

My battery cables were corroded after 30 years. The corrosion was inside the plastic. New cables and she starts every time now.

If both cables are cool to the touch - head for the starter.

ghoastrider1

Safty first...I know this sounds stupid..but worse has happened. Disconnect the battery ground wire FIRST, also,do NOT have head under starter when it relases,,its heavy.

Tom454

Mikes*Corvettes

Buffalo Dude

So I'm hearing this is what I should check:

-Recheck battery
-make sure all connections are tight
-move on to working on starter

Buffalo Dude

What am I checking for and how do I do that? There's nothing in the repair manual about it.

TimAT

Look at the teeth on the flywheel/ring gear. The contact should be almost all the way to the bottom of the teeth, and centered. You don't want the contact too deep, the starter will hang, or too shallow, it will break the teeth off. That's what the shims are for. Usually, if there are no shims installed, you won't need them.

wallemon

1) Recheck the battery.
2) Clean all connections.
3) Feel the wires from the battery to the starter looking for heat to try and determine if there is a short in one of the battery cables themselves.
4) Check the solenoid.
5) Proceed to the starter.

Usually if it is the starter itself the thing won't click or anything. Nothing happens at all.

Buffalo Dude

Success!! For those interested, I replaced the battery and all is well. Brought in the old battery just to see what the guy would say and he said "it's a good battery, it's your starter."

I'm still a little puzzled as to why AAA couldn't jump it. I can only assume the jump pack wasn't attached properly, or it didn't have enough charge. I guess that's what I get for assuming someone else knows what they're doing.

Whiplash71

If the old battery really was good I'd say you have a wiring problem or bad wiring connection to the battery. When you removed the old battery and put in the new one you could have jiggled something back into contact or you made a better connection to your battery.

My thought is that if your starter turned at all and then started clicking it's an electrical problem not the starter. Bad starters usually will turn and then not turn due to a flat spot. Solenoids can get burnt up if they aren't shielded properly from the exhaust and cause all kinds of weird problems.

I'd still double check the positive connection to the battery and starter as well as the ground from the battery to the frame. It's a simple thing to check. Also check the entire cable from the battery to the starter and to the frame to make sure the insulation is in tact and isn't rubbing up against some metal somewhere.

Glad it's running.

PhotoVette1

Actually, your Vette won this round--it would have been cheaper and easier to change the starter then the battery.

Buffalo Dude

You're right, damn batteries are expensive.


I'm 99% sure it was strictly a battery issue because I don't drive my car as much as I'd like to, which means it sits for long periods of time. I put a volt meter on it and when I cranked it, it would drop down to 7.5V. Now it fires up like a champ.