starter? help!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 258
Likes: 1
From: Temple, TX
starter? help!
Alright so I just got my 77 back from the paint shop, got home to put emblems and trim back on and the car wouldnt start to move it into my garage... It turns over about 5-6 times then whines whirrrrrrrrr is this my starter or solenoid? I know this is a dumb question help a young guy out who is learning.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
if the starter engages and spins it is not the solenoid.....i would try chargin the battery like the other guy said and go from there.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 258
Likes: 1
From: Temple, TX
The paint shop is an hour away from my house wouldnt it have charged back during the drive? The alternator and battery are both just about brand new... is there another reason why the engine wouldnt engage? thanks guys!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
who knows why? clean all the connections check water level in battery if you can, charge it up and dont worry it about unless it happens again.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 782
Likes: 1
From: Magic Valley ID
Did the shop remove the starter for any reason? I can't imagine that they would have. I think the fully charged battery is a great place to start....but I have never heard of that symptom before. Usually it either cranks or it doesn't. At first I thought it sounded like a starter shim issue...which, I suppose it could be as well. If it still does it after you charge the battery, look to see if the bolts are tight. Maybe something worked loose, and it it's just coincidence that it started doing it when you got it back from paint. Just a thought. Let us know what happens! 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 915
Likes: 2
From: Lima, OH -- 69 L71 427/435hp
If it was the battery then it wouldn't be kicking over 5-6 times like OP said.
Sounds like the bindex shaft on the starter needs oiled, it may be dry and not releasing and fully engaging the flywheel, so it's just spinning inside the starter hub or not making sufficient contact. Take the shield off and spray it with some lubricating oil. It's kinda the same thing when it's really cold (and/or dry) and it sticks and you have to tap the starter with a small hammer to get it to release.
Actually you could first try tapping on the starter and then see if it fires, if it free's up and fires then you'll know it's sticking.
Sounds like the bindex shaft on the starter needs oiled, it may be dry and not releasing and fully engaging the flywheel, so it's just spinning inside the starter hub or not making sufficient contact. Take the shield off and spray it with some lubricating oil. It's kinda the same thing when it's really cold (and/or dry) and it sticks and you have to tap the starter with a small hammer to get it to release.
Actually you could first try tapping on the starter and then see if it fires, if it free's up and fires then you'll know it's sticking.
Last edited by 1ARACE; Jan 14, 2010 at 03:44 PM.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 915
Likes: 2
From: Lima, OH -- 69 L71 427/435hp
I was thinking about this some more and wanted to add this as another potential problem and worse case scenario, but if you been cranking on it hard, trying to start it, you may have worn some teeth down on the bendix gear and/or flywheel as well. Let's hope not, but could be.
You didn't say, but i'm assuming, to the best of your knowledge, the starter has not been removed or tampered with and the problem came on suddenly and not progressively getting worse, right?
Like mydejavooo said, it 'could' be possible the bolts may have loosened and it's not allowing the bendix gear to properly engage if at all.
If it were me I'd start by making sure all is tight, spray bendix shaft with lube oil, tap starter a few times, then try to fire it up and see what happens.
Let us know.
You didn't say, but i'm assuming, to the best of your knowledge, the starter has not been removed or tampered with and the problem came on suddenly and not progressively getting worse, right?
Like mydejavooo said, it 'could' be possible the bolts may have loosened and it's not allowing the bendix gear to properly engage if at all.
If it were me I'd start by making sure all is tight, spray bendix shaft with lube oil, tap starter a few times, then try to fire it up and see what happens.
Let us know.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 258
Likes: 1
From: Temple, TX
thanks for the comments guys I really appreciate it, the car was bought in July and all I know is that the engine block matches the vin and also about the parts I have replaced or had replaced. To my knowlege the starter hasnt been touched. I just went by advance auto today and picked up a new starter for 45.00 seemed like a cheap enough fix and even if it doesnt fix it then I know that the starter is new... and when i mean it doesnt engage I mean you hear the starter turning over then a whine and the engine doesnt start Ill let yall know when I put the new starter on thanks!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 915
Likes: 2
From: Lima, OH -- 69 L71 427/435hp
thanks for the comments guys I really appreciate it, the car was bought in July and all I know is that the engine block matches the vin and also about the parts I have replaced or had replaced. To my knowlege the starter hasnt been touched. I just went by advance auto today and picked up a new starter for 45.00 seemed like a cheap enough fix and even if it doesnt fix it then I know that the starter is new... and when i mean it doesnt engage I mean you hear the starter turning over then a whine and the engine doesnt start Ill let yall know when I put the new starter on thanks!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 258
Likes: 1
From: Temple, TX
true enough... when I get under it tonight I will do that and check to see if all bolts are tight if that fixes it then I can return the starter if not then I have it next to me easy enough Ill let yall know thanks!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,112
From: Crossville TN
If the starter turns, the problem is not the starter or the starter solenoid. It is most likely the Bendix drive on the end of the starter shaft that is going bad (per Noonie's comments above). That is replaceable without changing the starter. You do have to remove the starter to swap it, though.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 258
Likes: 1
From: Temple, TX
I went ahead and replaced the starter and it works beautifully bought it from advance auto for 45.00 I figure that is a good deal. When I took out the old starter you could hear everything rattling around inside so I figured it was time to change it anyways thanks for the help guys! no matter how small it is always rewarding to do you own work, I was so happy when it started on the first try thanks again!
