Starter Solenoid Replacement
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,569
Likes: 126
From: San Diego California
Starter Solenoid Replacement
Forgive me please gents if I asked this one before, as I am getting old: 
Has anyone replaced their stock starter solenoid with the stock starter installed? I have an automatic and stock exhaust manifolds, but with 2.5" pipes.
Many thanks.
Steve
Has anyone replaced their stock starter solenoid with the stock starter installed? I have an automatic and stock exhaust manifolds, but with 2.5" pipes.
Many thanks.
Steve
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 112
From: Great Plains Iowa
It can be done but most folks remove the started to do it. The problem with trying to replace it while the starter is mounted is the inside solenoid mount bolt would be out of sight. But yes, it can be done.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,105
Likes: 96
From: Sunrise FL
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,569
Likes: 126
From: San Diego California
Thanks guys.
Yes, those new lightweight starters are just incredible compared to the stock starters that came from the factory at the time. Just can't bring myself to "soil" the car, as so much of it is still original.
Steve
Yes, those new lightweight starters are just incredible compared to the stock starters that came from the factory at the time. Just can't bring myself to "soil" the car, as so much of it is still original.
Steve
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 112
From: Great Plains Iowa
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
Won't work, the Wire from the distributor will back feed the starter and keep it engaged.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 13,014
Likes: 2,257
From: Corsicana, Tx
2020 C2 of the Year - Modified Winner
2020 Corvette of the Year (performance mods)
C2 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
2017 C2 of Year Finalist
You could do a "poor man's rebuild".
Remove the end cap by removing the screw through the armature lug (remove copper spacer if equipped). Remove positive battery cable. Remove the two small wires from solenoid. Remove the two small screws holding cover to solenoid. Slip cover forward. Remove the jam nut that holds the terminal in place. Now...if you look at that terminal on the "inside" you'll see it's square and will be worn down on one side. Flip it around until the good part is where the worn part was and will make contact with the washer inside the solenoid. Also flip the washer around so you have a good clean surface. Put it all back together and it will most likely work as new for a long time.
It's cheap and dirty...but it works.
JIM
Remove the end cap by removing the screw through the armature lug (remove copper spacer if equipped). Remove positive battery cable. Remove the two small wires from solenoid. Remove the two small screws holding cover to solenoid. Slip cover forward. Remove the jam nut that holds the terminal in place. Now...if you look at that terminal on the "inside" you'll see it's square and will be worn down on one side. Flip it around until the good part is where the worn part was and will make contact with the washer inside the solenoid. Also flip the washer around so you have a good clean surface. Put it all back together and it will most likely work as new for a long time.
It's cheap and dirty...but it works.
JIM
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
It would be best to just drop the starter/solenoid as a set and swap out the solenoid. If the starter is original and has not been rebuilt, I HIGHLY recommend that you at least examine the motor brushes (and probably replace them) before reinstalling.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,569
Likes: 126
From: San Diego California
Considering all suggestions given, which I DO honestly appreciate, yours was the one I wanted to avoid, but no others could equal the best outcome for the vehicle.
Perhaps if I start workin' out on one of these....
...I'll be ready to R&R that starter by January.
Steve
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 112
From: Great Plains Iowa
Yeah, I just had a momentary brain fart. When I wired my electric fuel pump several years ago I tied a jumper to the S terminal so it would pump when it was cranking but then it wouldn't quit cranking. Oops. I put the jumper onto the R terminal and all was well.................
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,050
Likes: 205
From: Lewes Delaware
Steve,
I work out with 2-20# Dumbbells twice a week to keep my arms in shape just to handle this chore.
Label the wires coming off the starter (especially the R & S) so they go back on correctly. Mine got reversed once and resulted in hot starting problems.
Fran
I work out with 2-20# Dumbbells twice a week to keep my arms in shape just to handle this chore.
Label the wires coming off the starter (especially the R & S) so they go back on correctly. Mine got reversed once and resulted in hot starting problems.
Fran
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,847
Likes: 959
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
You could do a "poor man's rebuild".
Remove the end cap by removing the screw through the armature lug (remove copper spacer if equipped). Remove positive battery cable. Remove the two small wires from solenoid. Remove the two small screws holding cover to solenoid. Slip cover forward. Remove the jam nut that holds the terminal in place. Now...if you look at that terminal on the "inside" you'll see it's square and will be worn down on one side. Flip it around until the good part is where the worn part was and will make contact with the washer inside the solenoid. Also flip the washer around so you have a good clean surface. Put it all back together and it will most likely work as new for a long time.
It's cheap and dirty...but it works.
JIM
Remove the end cap by removing the screw through the armature lug (remove copper spacer if equipped). Remove positive battery cable. Remove the two small wires from solenoid. Remove the two small screws holding cover to solenoid. Slip cover forward. Remove the jam nut that holds the terminal in place. Now...if you look at that terminal on the "inside" you'll see it's square and will be worn down on one side. Flip it around until the good part is where the worn part was and will make contact with the washer inside the solenoid. Also flip the washer around so you have a good clean surface. Put it all back together and it will most likely work as new for a long time.
It's cheap and dirty...but it works.
JIM
I've rebuilt quite a few starters over the years, and IIRC I've never had to replace the solenoid. They're pretty durable pieces, and just cleaning up the terminals and disc always worked out well for me.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 13,014
Likes: 2,257
From: Corsicana, Tx
2020 C2 of the Year - Modified Winner
2020 Corvette of the Year (performance mods)
C2 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
2017 C2 of Year Finalist
Interestingly...years ago I tore apart some brand new "rebuilt" solenoids and found that's all they had done to "rebuild" them. And you know what? Probably last just as long as the first one did actually!
These days it's a lot easier to swap the whole thing, but I still like whipping out the ohm meter to see what's wrong with stuff...like alternator diodes etc etc.
JIM
Last edited by 427Hotrod; Nov 29, 2015 at 09:00 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,569
Likes: 126
From: San Diego California
Jim,
I like you.
I used a ring tab I found in a gutter once to replace a 30 amp motorcycle fuse i had no replacement for, in order to get home. Necessity is........well, you know.
Thanks for the info.
Steve
I like you.
I used a ring tab I found in a gutter once to replace a 30 amp motorcycle fuse i had no replacement for, in order to get home. Necessity is........well, you know.
Thanks for the info.
Steve
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
90-95% of the time that folks replace their starters, the starter solenoid is the only thing that's gone bad. Solenoids have a finite life (many years); starters are almost bullet proof...except for the brushes, which are easy to replace.
I bet the rebuild facilities just LOVE to get all those 'perfectly good' starter motors back (along with the defective solenoid) when owners just replace them both as a set!
I bet the rebuild facilities just LOVE to get all those 'perfectly good' starter motors back (along with the defective solenoid) when owners just replace them both as a set!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 19
From: Ocean Springs, MS
St. Jude Donor '07
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,569
Likes: 126
From: San Diego California