79 Won't Start - Advise
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 46
Likes: 2
From: Lakeland FL
79 Won't Start - Advise
Since I bought the car this past February when I go to start it, about 80% of the time, I have to turn the key 2-3 times. The first few times all I get was a "click". Then the next turn of the key and it starts right up.
I just had a new radiator, new water pump, and head gaskets installed. She was still over heating and I had this work done. I picked her up yesterday after 25 days in the shop (don't ask). She ran fine on the way home. Started after the "normal" 3 clicks this morning to get to the golf course, 3 clicks to start to get back home and then 2-3 clicks of the key turn to pull her out of the garage and wash her. I go to start her to pull back into the garage and all I get is a heavy clunk (slightly more then the normal click) when I turn the key. The car "was" running really well for the few miles I put on it since I picked it up yesterday.
Do I need a new starter? Please tell me it's nothing serious, again.
I just had a new radiator, new water pump, and head gaskets installed. She was still over heating and I had this work done. I picked her up yesterday after 25 days in the shop (don't ask). She ran fine on the way home. Started after the "normal" 3 clicks this morning to get to the golf course, 3 clicks to start to get back home and then 2-3 clicks of the key turn to pull her out of the garage and wash her. I go to start her to pull back into the garage and all I get is a heavy clunk (slightly more then the normal click) when I turn the key. The car "was" running really well for the few miles I put on it since I picked it up yesterday.
Do I need a new starter? Please tell me it's nothing serious, again.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 119
From: Springfield Missouri
maybe a rebuild of the starter won't hurt, cost of doing this are about $5. cleaning it up and then new brushes and taking apart the solenoid and cleaning it up are about all that is usually needed: unless the brushes have aready eaten into the arnature, then costs go up a little unless you have some old starters laying around. any corvette clubs in the area??? usually someone will help do this. paying $100 for a junk rebuilt is stupid IMO. IFFFFF the starter is original, don't give it away!!! worth more on the original motor than the junk rebuild. ALSO check battery cables for corrison!!! or loose connections. could also be the switch, but not usually.
Last edited by lvmyvt76; Nov 5, 2016 at 04:45 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 115
Likes: 25
From: Los Angeles
I had a similar problem with my 79, and it turned out to be a bad positive battery cable. PITA to replace and probably not a common failure, but that's what fixed it for me. I also replaced the starter shortly thereafter (solenoid died) with a rebuilt one from Auto Zombie (kept the original, and will rebuild myself eventually) and I have ~10k on the new one with no issue. I wouldn't give away an original starter, but the rebuild ones work fine IMO.
Last edited by kkEdlund; Nov 5, 2016 at 06:37 PM.
