Starter "Clunk"
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 0
From: Edmond Oklahoma
Starter "Clunk"
On my 103k mile LT4, the starter occasionally just "clunks" from the solenoid. The next turn of the key it will start up fine. I can not recreate the problem enough to be able to really troubleshoot it, but I don't want to get stranded and end up having to roll start it.
If the cables are clean, in good shape and tight - does it seem a safe bet that the starter itself is the cuplrit? Changing it is easy enough but I hate to throw 200.00+ at a new starter if there is something else I should check.
If the cables are clean, in good shape and tight - does it seem a safe bet that the starter itself is the cuplrit? Changing it is easy enough but I hate to throw 200.00+ at a new starter if there is something else I should check.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Cable lugs and battery terminals need to be clean and bright with tight connections. It will not hurt to remove the battery cables (neg first) and clean the cable lugs and the battery posts and replace (neg last).
The starter solenoid forces the pinion gear of the starter into the ring gear on the flywheel and makes an electrical connection for current to the starter motor. The contacts eventually get worn and begin to fail to make a low resistance connection to the starter motor and the motor will not run although you hear the starter solenoid go , "clunk" when you hit the start position on the ign sw. If it still does this after cleaning your battery connections, I would remove the starter and replace the starter solenoid or have an auto electrical shop look at the starter to replace the starter solenoid and check the condition of the brushes in the starter motor which also wear.
The starter solenoid forces the pinion gear of the starter into the ring gear on the flywheel and makes an electrical connection for current to the starter motor. The contacts eventually get worn and begin to fail to make a low resistance connection to the starter motor and the motor will not run although you hear the starter solenoid go , "clunk" when you hit the start position on the ign sw. If it still does this after cleaning your battery connections, I would remove the starter and replace the starter solenoid or have an auto electrical shop look at the starter to replace the starter solenoid and check the condition of the brushes in the starter motor which also wear.
