I need help
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,251
Likes: 0
From: SF Bay Area California
I need help
My starter died today. I know its not the battery, because its brand new and when jumped it just doesn't want to crank. It clicks, but nothing else. Anyone have any tips on replacing it?
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 473
Likes: 7
From: Houston Texas
If the battery to starter cables are the originals I'd replace them first.
They can corrode on the inside and the ends look OK.
I know this sounds crazy but it happened to me. I replaced both positive and negative cables and it started fine then.
My starter is the original (knock on wood!) with 100K + on my car.
If it does end up being your starter I'd take it too a good local electrical shop and have yours rebuilt or buy a new GM/Delco from thepartsladi on eBay or elsewhere.
I've heard bad stories about the cheap rebuilt ones from Auto Zone, O'Rilley, etc...
Good luck on your project!
They can corrode on the inside and the ends look OK.
I know this sounds crazy but it happened to me. I replaced both positive and negative cables and it started fine then.
My starter is the original (knock on wood!) with 100K + on my car.
If it does end up being your starter I'd take it too a good local electrical shop and have yours rebuilt or buy a new GM/Delco from thepartsladi on eBay or elsewhere.
I've heard bad stories about the cheap rebuilt ones from Auto Zone, O'Rilley, etc...
Good luck on your project!
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,918
Likes: 1
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
On that red positive line, pull it back off the battery and push that bolt out of the plastic housing and make sure that it's clean and making good contact in the fitting
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
Make sure battery terminals are fully tight.
Take a voltage reading at the feed wire to the starter solenoid while someone tries to start the car. It's the small wire. If you're not getting fully battery voltage there, trace the wire back to the ignition switch. Then jump direct battery voltage to it and see if it now spins.
If there is full battery voltage going to it, then yes there is something going on with the starter. Try smacking it some with a hammer and see if anything changes.
I'm having this same issue on my other car. Even though the battery is fully charged, I only get about 8 volts at the starter solenoid feed wire. So the starter only clicks but won't crank the car. If I apply a direct uninterrupted 12 volts from the battery, the stater spins each and every time. On my car I'm thinking a bad ignition switch, or a bad connection somewhere along the feed wire.
Take a voltage reading at the feed wire to the starter solenoid while someone tries to start the car. It's the small wire. If you're not getting fully battery voltage there, trace the wire back to the ignition switch. Then jump direct battery voltage to it and see if it now spins.
If there is full battery voltage going to it, then yes there is something going on with the starter. Try smacking it some with a hammer and see if anything changes.
I'm having this same issue on my other car. Even though the battery is fully charged, I only get about 8 volts at the starter solenoid feed wire. So the starter only clicks but won't crank the car. If I apply a direct uninterrupted 12 volts from the battery, the stater spins each and every time. On my car I'm thinking a bad ignition switch, or a bad connection somewhere along the feed wire.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 2,240
Likes: 41
From: Baltimore, MD USA
If it's a starter problem, remove it and open the case. The copper contact on the solenoid plunger and the copper battery lug terminal usually pit and make poor contact.
Here's a link.
Scroll down and there are pictures and the procedure on how to replace the contacts.
http://www.nationsautoelectric.com/Nippondenso.html
Here's a link.
Scroll down and there are pictures and the procedure on how to replace the contacts.
http://www.nationsautoelectric.com/Nippondenso.html
Last edited by Hooked on Vettes; Aug 24, 2007 at 09:25 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 843
Likes: 0
From: Albany Oregon
If it's a starter problem, remove it and open the case. The copper contact on the solenoid plunger and the copper battery lug terminal usually pit and make poor contact. Here's a link with some pictures and procedures of how to replace the contacts.
http://www.nationsautoelectric.com/Nippondenso.html
http://www.nationsautoelectric.com/Nippondenso.html
Good advice, and nice link for the procedure.
I had this problem on my 92 coupe.....don't know if the Lt1 starter is different than the L98.
If they're the same, and this is your problem, I got the 2 contacts I needed at a local parts house. They were $2 each.
The repair itself was pretty straightforward, especially for a 'vette.
Good Luck!
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Peoria Arizona.. Resident Gold Cylon
Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 14,924
Likes: 9
From: Merritt Ils Fl
Cessnadriver, am guessing you are not overly auto repair inclined. If so all the proceeding posts, though correct, are beyond what you are inclined tackle. If so your first, and most expensive, option would be to have the car towed to a shop and the starter repaired/replaced. Second would be to DIY. Not hard but can be a little tricky getting the starter out. Has to clear tranny lines and exhaust pipes. Haynes or Chilton will tell you how. If you decide to replace I would suggest a mini hi-torque starter. Will run you about $150.00 but will last a long time.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Taylors SC
Second would be to DIY. Not hard but can be a little tricky getting the starter out. Has to clear tranny lines and exhaust pipes. Haynes or Chilton will tell you how. If you decide to replace I would suggest a mini hi-torque starter. Will run you about $150.00 but will last a long time.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,251
Likes: 0
From: SF Bay Area California
Thanks everyone for the help. With my dad and a former Corvette mechanics supervision, I cleaned the corossion off of the cables and checked the battery. They both said it is the starter. Just picked up a new starter today after school. My dad is going to help me jack it up so I can put the new one in. I cant wait to get it back on the road again!