When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I just replaced the spark plug wires on my 1979L 82 Corvette and after I replace them, the starter started smoking white smoke while trying to start it. It would still kick up and turn on and crank on pretty fast but even if it was keyed on for just two seconds, it would start smoking, what could it be? Is it my starter or is something wrong with my coil? I removed it to do the wires since it’s a big accel coil and I needed the room. did I do something wrong replacing my wires? Any and all ideas are appreciated.
Letting the smoke out your wires and or your starter is definitely a bad thing! (Really hard to get the smoke back in! And you need to use genuine G.M. smoke).
When something like this happens right after you worked on it. The very first assumption is that yes, you mucked something up. Go back and double, triple check all your work. Perhaps you pinched a wire some place or hooked something up incorrectly.
Letting the smoke out your wires and or your starter is definitely a bad thing! (Really hard to get the smoke back in! And you need to use genuine G.M. smoke).
When something like this happens right after you worked on it. The very first assumption is that yes, you mucked something up. Go back and double, triple check all your work. Perhaps you pinched a wire some place or hooked something up incorrectly.
oh lord now I gotta buy OE smoke from gm FACKKKKKKKKKK LOL. Yeah I tinkered a bit before I had to leave I unplugged the coil just to see what would happen and I still had smoke so I’m real stumped here I checked all my wires they are touching nothing and everything seems to be in place im gonna check again thoigh
Yes you need to be absolutely certain exactly where the smoke is coming from. Perhaps you knocked a wire while routing your plug wires?
And I checked, OEM smoke is currently on back order! Better find this issue!
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
you need to cral under and find out what is smoking because it will eventually stop smokiing making it harder to find.....
even if you spilled oil on the starter is shouldnt smoke. IF you crossed wires it wouldnt start. If you didnt connect the ground you could be making it work harder causing it to smoke. If wires are loose it could cause the same thing. Maybe removing it and doing a bench test to see if it still smokes would be a good Idea, if you cant, find an auto parts store that will check it for free...
Yes you need to be absolutely certain exactly where the smoke is coming from. Perhaps you knocked a wire while routing your plug wires?
And I checked, OEM smoke is currently on back order! Better find this issue!
awwwwwwwwwwww mannnnnnnnnn welp I really hope I can get this.
you need to cral under and find out what is smoking because it will eventually stop smokiing making it harder to find.....
even if you spilled oil on the starter is shouldnt smoke. IF you crossed wires it wouldnt start. If you didnt connect the ground you could be making it work harder causing it to smoke. If wires are loose it could cause the same thing. Maybe removing it and doing a bench test to see if it still smokes would be a good Idea, if you cant, find an auto parts store that will check it for free...
I like that plan I think that’s what I’m gonna do.
thanks for all the replies. I think for this issue I’m gonna take the starter out and clean all the wires and make sure they are good and toss it back in. If it still smokes after I test it too then I’ll buy a new one here. how does that plan sound?
Post some pics of potential smoke area too…maybe someone will see something.
odd only ignition on still smokes..look close at main power wire..its very tight on starter with other hot wires..always thought too close..
here is a 79 l82 pics and thread if helpful https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-starting.html
Post some pics of potential smoke area too…maybe someone will see something.
odd only ignition on still smokes..look close at main power wire..its very tight on starter with other hot wires..always thought too close..
here is a 79 l82 pics and thread if helpful https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-starting.html
yeah it is really a big ol cluster of wires down there. I’m gonna go through em tomorrow and I’ll post some pics if I get stumped it seems to be coming from the top of the starter near the solenoid. I think something with the wiring down there could be off I’m gonna take all the wires off inspect em and see what I see.
I'd be shocked if it's not the starter extension harness. My 80 came with the insulation cooked off of the fusible links, but was still running. Here's what a new one looks like. @interpon's images show the starter end of this.
I'd be shocked if it's not the starter extension harness. My 80 came with the insulation cooked off of the fusible links, but was still running. Here's what a new one looks like. @interpon's images show the starter end of this.
hopefully that’s all it is I’ll inspect the wires and try to take a video of the starter out of the car so it’s easier to see where the smoke is coming from and make a repair.
so surprisingly it seems the starter was smoking i pulled it out and bench tested it and it smoked a little bit. Albeit wasnt the most controlled test, but i have a new starter now and im throwing it in today. Thank you guys for all the help.
Smoking starter
