92 LT1 Starter Problem
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Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 165
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From: Middleburg Florida
92 LT1 Starter Problem
Went to leave work today and the car decided I needed to stay longer...
The starter cranked just briefly, then stopped. It's done that a couple times in the recent past, but it would typically start right up on the second attempt. This time, nothing. Tried several times and it finally cranked normally, the engine fired and ran normally, but the starter apparently wouldn't disengage, judging by the horrible whining noise.
I turned the ignition OFF, but the starter kept right on happily cranking away. At one point I even took the key out, but the starter kept going. It finally took several attempts of going between "run" and off before the starter finally disengaged. A split second later, smoke started billowing out from the passenger side. Needless to say, it wouldn't crank over again afterwards.
Never had anything like this happen before. I'm sure I need a new starter and solenoid now, anyone have ideas as to what else I may need to get before I try fixing it in near 100-degree Florida temperatures? Thanks in advance....
The starter cranked just briefly, then stopped. It's done that a couple times in the recent past, but it would typically start right up on the second attempt. This time, nothing. Tried several times and it finally cranked normally, the engine fired and ran normally, but the starter apparently wouldn't disengage, judging by the horrible whining noise.
I turned the ignition OFF, but the starter kept right on happily cranking away. At one point I even took the key out, but the starter kept going. It finally took several attempts of going between "run" and off before the starter finally disengaged. A split second later, smoke started billowing out from the passenger side. Needless to say, it wouldn't crank over again afterwards.
Never had anything like this happen before. I'm sure I need a new starter and solenoid now, anyone have ideas as to what else I may need to get before I try fixing it in near 100-degree Florida temperatures? Thanks in advance....
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,672
Likes: 20
From: Lake Wylie SC
Take a good long look at your battery cables and terminals, you might have overheated them. The starter is fairly simple to remove and replace. I'm not a fan of rebuilt starters, I like new AC Delco's.
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 165
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From: Middleburg Florida
Thanks Strick, I'll take a look at those too. She's still sitting in a safe parking lot and will probably have to stay there until Saturday morning. I probably don't want to know what a new starter will cost, but I'd rather go that route than rebuilt.
I just put a new battery in a couple months back, but todays event may have smoked it. I need to get in the Helm manual and look at relays and the like. For the life of me I can't imagine any other way it could have stayed cranking with the key OUT of the ignition.
I just put a new battery in a couple months back, but todays event may have smoked it. I need to get in the Helm manual and look at relays and the like. For the life of me I can't imagine any other way it could have stayed cranking with the key OUT of the ignition.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,672
Likes: 20
From: Lake Wylie SC
Originally Posted by rwsduc
Thanks Strick, I'll take a look at those too. She's still sitting in a safe parking lot and will probably have to stay there until Saturday morning. I probably don't want to know what a new starter will cost, but I'd rather go that route than rebuilt.
I just put a new battery in a couple months back, but todays event may have smoked it. I need to get in the Helm manual and look at relays and the like. For the life of me I can't imagine any other way it could have stayed cranking with the key OUT of the ignition.
I just put a new battery in a couple months back, but todays event may have smoked it. I need to get in the Helm manual and look at relays and the like. For the life of me I can't imagine any other way it could have stayed cranking with the key OUT of the ignition.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Your starter includes a starter solenoid which pushes the starter gear into the flywheel ring gear and then switches the battery to the starter motor. The contact on the starter solenoid that switches current to the starter motor gets pitted and burned and can weld shut near the end of its life and keep the starter motor running with the ignition key off. It happened to me and I keep a wrench for my battery posts in the car and was able to disconnect the battery and then had my 87 flat bedded to my mechanic. You need a new starter solenoid, but if you want to get it out of the parking lot, I would just replace the starter there. I also had trouble with a rebuilt starter and replaced it with a new one!
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,672
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From: Lake Wylie SC
Originally Posted by Ramrod92
Hey Tom, try changing a starter on an LT1 with a Canton pan and headers... 
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 165
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From: Middleburg Florida
Originally Posted by jfb
The contact on the starter solenoid that switches current to the starter motor gets pitted and burned and can weld shut near the end of its life and keep the starter motor running with the ignition key off.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
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From: Olive Branch (Memphis suburb) MS
Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by Strick
Hi Ransome, long time no hear from you. How's the new house? Got the garage all set up?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
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From: Olive Branch (Memphis suburb) MS
Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by Strick
Hi Ransome, long time no hear from you. How's the new house? Got the garage all set up?
