C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Weird Starter Problem

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 7, 2012 | 09:45 AM
  #1  
patraw03's Avatar
patraw03
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Wellesley Island New York
Default Weird Starter Problem

I replaced the factory type starter with a High Torque starter, to remedy a problem I was having breaking the nose cone on them. Anyways.. Since installing the new starter, I burned out the toggle switch that turns the power on, ( I have a push button start, w/ on/off toggle) I'm not sure if this is related to the new issue, which is this... When I connect the battery the bendix gear spins but the bendix doesn't kick out. I fear that the starter burned up, but this is a brand new starter. I'm not running any fuses to it (not sure if I'm suppose too) This happened all of a sudden when I was trying to start it to pull it back into the garage. Because of my previous starter problems, I use starting fluid to help get a quick start. I had sprayed the card and tried to start it, when I released the push button, the bendix was still going. I hit the kill switch, and it still turned. I disconnected the kill switch, and hooked the battery back and it still spins. Any Ideas?

Mike
Reply
Old Jan 7, 2012 | 11:54 AM
  #2  
Steve2147's Avatar
Steve2147
Pro
 
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 581
Likes: 5
From: BC
Default

You have the battery cable connected to the wrong stud on the starter or a wire mounted on the correct stud that is also touching the other large stud, assuming it has the gm type starter mounted solenoid.

The starter nose pieces were breaking because of excessive timing advance at startup.

Steve g
Reply
Old Jan 7, 2012 | 12:25 PM
  #3  
patraw03's Avatar
patraw03
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Wellesley Island New York
Default

The starter had worked when I initially installed it.. So I'm sure that it is wired properly.
Reply
Old Jan 7, 2012 | 12:50 PM
  #4  
Steve2147's Avatar
Steve2147
Pro
 
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 581
Likes: 5
From: BC
Default

Originally Posted by patraw03
The starter had worked when I initially installed it.. So I'm sure that it is wired properly.
Current is going from the battery cable stud on the sol directly to the starter stud on the sol. It's either external between the 2 studs or internal to the sol. That is the only way the motor can spin without the drive extending.
Normal operation is that the magnetic relay of the solenoid is energized which pulls a plunger back. The plunger is connected to the drive through levers. On the back of the plunger is the contact disc that then connects the batt stud to the starter stud. So in operation the key switch energizes the magnet, the plunger moves back pushing the drive into the flywheel. When it gets to the end of it's stroke the contact disc hits the two studs and provides power to the motor windings.

Steve g
Reply
Old Jan 7, 2012 | 02:45 PM
  #5  
patraw03's Avatar
patraw03
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Wellesley Island New York
Default

So where should I start to fix this? I have the battery hooked directly to the large stud on the back of the starter, also I have another wire going to the same stud on the starter I think it is wired to the on/off toggle. To the small stud it is the wire for the Push button start.
Reply
Old Jan 7, 2012 | 03:16 PM
  #6  
Steve2147's Avatar
Steve2147
Pro
 
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 581
Likes: 5
From: BC
Default

Originally Posted by patraw03
So where should I start to fix this? I have the battery hooked directly to the large stud on the back of the starter, also I have another wire going to the same stud on the starter I think it is wired to the on/off toggle. To the small stud it is the wire for the Push button start.
I need to see a pic of this aftermarket starter. Are there not to large studs, one above the other like the oe starter? The lower stud has the strap on it that goes into the body of the starter?

Steve g
Reply
Old Jan 7, 2012 | 04:12 PM
  #7  
aussiejohn's Avatar
aussiejohn
Drifting
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 20
From: The only Corvettes in Highett Victoria
Default

Originally Posted by patraw03
I replaced the factory type starter with a High Torque starter, to remedy a problem I was having breaking the nose cone on them.

Mike
Mike,

Just how many starters have you broken? If it's more than one, then you have a problem with either the mounting of them or, as Steve said, the timing is way too advanced.

You need to first make absolutely certain that the timing mark on the harmonic balancer is in the correct position. When the balancers get old, the rubber ring between the two metal parts can fail and cause the outer metal ring ( with the timing mark on it ) to move in relation to the hub.

Unless you verify that the timing mark is where it is supposed to be, then you cannot be sure that your timing is accurate. Once you are absolutely sure that the timing mark is where it should be, then set your timing to factory specs.

If that is all good, then you have to make sure that the starter is mounted correctly. I don't know how one could be incorrectly fitted, but maybe the mounting holes in the block are not exactly where they should be, or are worn and the bolts are a loose fit. It stands to reason that the centre lines of both the starter and crankshaft must be absolutely parallel for everything to spin smoothly.

Check and get back to us.

Regards from Down Under.

aussiejohn
Reply
Old Jan 7, 2012 | 05:39 PM
  #8  
patraw03's Avatar
patraw03
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Wellesley Island New York
Default

The timing has been checked and rechecked, this is not the issue. The mounting may be the issue for the broken starters. I got tired of trying to mess with it, which is why I bought the high torque starter. I think I may have been trying to put the wrong starter all together in, once I got the new starter, it worked and sounded great, as opposed to the other starters.

The studs are the way you described them. The 2 large studs, one has the strap going into the starter from the selinoid. Ill put a picture up soon
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jan 7, 2012 | 06:10 PM
  #9  
Peterbuilt's Avatar
Peterbuilt
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,417
Likes: 1,554
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Default Sounds like you have 2 problems.

The only way for the bendix to turn is to supply 12 volts to the "S" terminal.
#1-make sure your new "Start" switch shuts off.
#2-make sure the solenoid is good.
Reply
Old Jan 7, 2012 | 06:25 PM
  #10  
scottyp99's Avatar
scottyp99
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Default

I don't understand how a high torque starter would fix a problem involving cracking nose cones. I would think it would just make it worse.


Scott
Reply
Old Jan 7, 2012 | 07:17 PM
  #11  
Steve2147's Avatar
Steve2147
Pro
 
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 581
Likes: 5
From: BC
Default

Originally Posted by patraw03
The timing has been checked and rechecked, this is not the issue. The mounting may be the issue for the broken starters. I got tired of trying to mess with it, which is why I bought the high torque starter. I think I may have been trying to put the wrong starter all together in, once I got the new starter, it worked and sounded great, as opposed to the other starters.

The studs are the way you described them. The 2 large studs, one has the strap going into the starter from the selinoid. Ill put a picture up soon
The lower stud is getting power without the solenoid being energized. This is how the starter will spin without the drive extended as soon as the batt cable is connected. As I mentioned, if the batt cable is to the top (one without the strap into starter body) there is either something hanging down from it touching the lower stud or there is an internal solenoid problem where the two studs are constantly connected.

Steve g
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Weird Starter Problem





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:37 AM.

story-0
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE