LT4 Starter Issue
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,268
Likes: 142
From: Ottawa Ontario
LT4 Starter Issue
Lately, when I try to start my '96 in the morning, I can hear the starter spin, but it doesn't engage the flywheel on the 1st few attempts. Voltage is 12.4 volts (new battery last year). Eventually it will engage, but seems to be taking increasingly more attempts. Just want to verify it's likely the starter & I'm not overlooking something else.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,268
Likes: 142
From: Ottawa Ontario
Thanks for the reply. The car has 80K on it. I've had it for 2 years, now and there was no record of the starter being changed in the service records provided by the PO, so it may well be the original. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,334
Likes: 2,260
From: Central Maryland
The starter's drive gear that engages the ring gear on the flywheel is coupled to the starter's armature shaft via an overrunning clutch. Based upon your description, there can be little doubt that this clutch is failing. You'll probably see the problem worsen until it is fixed. The simplest fix is to either replace the starter or have it rebuilt by a reputable rebuilder.
The overrunning clutch allows the drive gear to decouple (spin freely) on the armature shaft if the ignition switch is held in the Start position after the engine has started. This prevents over-revving and destruction of the starter armature.
Live well,
SJW
The overrunning clutch allows the drive gear to decouple (spin freely) on the armature shaft if the ignition switch is held in the Start position after the engine has started. This prevents over-revving and destruction of the starter armature.
Live well,
SJW
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,268
Likes: 142
From: Ottawa Ontario
Just to follow up, I ordered a new (reman) starter from NAPA (one of two places that could get me one next day) on Thursday. Of course, the vette decided to be on it's best behavior that day! Too late, Saturday I was able to wrestle the old one out & the new in. Works perfect - even when the volts drop to 12.
As it turns out, the starter I took out was a replacement as indicated by the tag still attached to it which said "Remove and attach to customer invoice." Shouldn't be surprising though, any part that lives that close to the catalytic converter isn't destined to have that long a life.
As it turns out, the starter I took out was a replacement as indicated by the tag still attached to it which said "Remove and attach to customer invoice." Shouldn't be surprising though, any part that lives that close to the catalytic converter isn't destined to have that long a life.
