Starters
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
From: Brooks GA
Starters
My 84 has not been starting on a regular basis for the last couple of days. I turn the key and nothing. No Clicking no nothing. I tapped the starter with a hammer and it starts up. I just bought the vehicle on the 4 th of September and I think it set for a while and was not driven very much. I am assuming that I need to have the starter replaced. I have been on Auto Zone and Advanced Auto Parts web sites and they have starters that range from $50 to $200. My question then becomes is the more expensive starter really the better starter. All of them come with a one year warrenty. Any thoughts and recommendations would be appreciated.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Your brushes could be worn down, but I doubt it if the car doesn't have a lot of miles. A more likely cause is the copper contacts that get forced together by the starter solenoid at the end of its stroke. These contacts switch 12v to the starter motor and get blackened and pitted and have to be replaced. If it is the contacts you would have heard the starter solenoid click. Next, I would unplug the clutch safety switch (gear selector sw at the base of the shifter if auto) and jump the socket and see if that allows a crank (when it won't crank). Another thing to do is to remove the battery cables (neg first) and clean the cable lugs, bolts, and the battery posts and replace the cables (neg last). A good connection is required for the battery to supply the 100+ amps the starter requires. If it does turn out to be the starter, it would be worth your while to check with any local auto electrical shops who usually do at lower cost and install better parts on rebuilds than the auto parts stores carry.
