Starter noise
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Joined: Mar 2019
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From: St. Augustine FL
Starter noise
I'm noticing the 94 coupe I just bought last week when sitting for a few days and I go to start it the starter whines for a second before catching. This didn't happen the first two times I looked at the car before buying it. Doesn't happen again unless it sits couple days. The car only had 39 900 on it can it need a starter already? Is this common? This is the first Vette I've ever owned so any insight would help. He rarely drove it as you can tell by the mileage and doesn't seem like the type of guy that wouldn't fix something like that before selling it. He did put new bilsteins all around just because they were over 20 yrs old. Before you ask I did have a full car fax on it before purchase.
Zen Vet Master Level VII
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 5,214
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From: Southlake, TX
Congrats on the new Vette. The whining is not normal and a sign that things are beginning to get wonky. Starters are cheap and easy so I'd just suck it up and swap it out. Your car is 25 years old so age AND mileage come into play.
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Joined: Mar 2019
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From: St. Augustine FL
Thank you I was afraid of that but like you said should be fairly quick and cheap fix. Could it be from just lack of use because it only has 39,900 miles and it is 25 yrs old after all? Just age I suppose.
Thanks again I would've hate to get stranded in my first use of the car as soon as this weather cooperates
Thanks again I would've hate to get stranded in my first use of the car as soon as this weather cooperates
Zen Vet Master Level VII
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 5,214
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From: Southlake, TX
If you have not done so, I'd consider getting the car inspected by a reputable Corvette pro. Yes, you will uncover a few things and yes, it will cost you a few repair bucks, but no, you wont get stranded on the side of the road.
Have you gotten yourself a FSM?
Have you gotten yourself a FSM?
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Joined: Mar 2019
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From: St. Augustine FL
I don't even know what a FSM is. I assume a service manual of some sort. When the weather changes and all this salt is off the roads I plan on bringing it to the Chevrolet dealer for the starter and have them do a complete overall look at the car. Do you recommend some kind of actual corvette specialist over the dealer because I don't know one. The mechanic I use for my 2013 Silverado I trust completely with my truck and my girlfriends car and I'm sure he would be honest but I will take it to the dealer if your saying you recommend that.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,024
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From: Central Alabama
The FSM is as you thought the Factory Service Manual. The one dealers use. Don't waste money on Haynes or such.
It sounds like your starter has a little corrosion between the shaft and the Bendix gear. LT1 starters are easy to remove and can last for a very long time. My suggestion would be to drop the starter clean the shaft and gear then apply a dry film lube, which can be done without disassembly. If these starters have a weak spot, it's the contacts for the solenoid. They burn and bit after a while. Good news is they can be replaced for under $15 in parts and an hour of work.
My contacts started to fail last year. You turn the key and it takes 2 or 3 seconds for the starter to react.
My guess is the seller knew about the issue and would spin it before showing.
It sounds like your starter has a little corrosion between the shaft and the Bendix gear. LT1 starters are easy to remove and can last for a very long time. My suggestion would be to drop the starter clean the shaft and gear then apply a dry film lube, which can be done without disassembly. If these starters have a weak spot, it's the contacts for the solenoid. They burn and bit after a while. Good news is they can be replaced for under $15 in parts and an hour of work.
My contacts started to fail last year. You turn the key and it takes 2 or 3 seconds for the starter to react.
My guess is the seller knew about the issue and would spin it before showing.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,069
Likes: 262
From: Park Ridge New Jersey
I don't even know what a FSM is. I assume a service manual of some sort. When the weather changes and all this salt is off the roads I plan on bringing it to the Chevrolet dealer for the starter and have them do a complete overall look at the car. Do you recommend some kind of actual corvette specialist over the dealer because I don't know one. The mechanic I use for my 2013 Silverado I trust completely with my truck and my girlfriends car and I'm sure he would be honest but I will take it to the dealer if your saying you recommend that.
You should post in the area with you name your location
btw FSM = factory service manual
Last edited by vette196; Mar 7, 2019 at 04:30 PM.
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From: St. Augustine FL
Thank you for that info!!! I'm not only new to this site but it's also the first Vette I've ever owned. I appreciate the responses I get when I ask a question I'm sure everyone on this site would consider an amateur question-- truth is the only thing I really know about corvettes is that I've wanted one since I was eight yrs old. I'll be 50 this year and to be honest I wasn't even really looking to buy one when I found this one! I often browse and dream ya know. Most everything out there in my price range had close to or 100,000 plus miles. Vette 196 answered me as well on this subject and suggested I post in my area to find a good corvette specialist to look over the whole car but as I said I'm new to this site and I don't know how to post "just in my area". Anyone out there have any tips? I live in Suffolk county Long Island , NY? Thanks again to all who responded!!!
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,069
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From: Park Ridge New Jersey
Thank you for that info!!! I'm not only new to this site but it's also the first Vette I've ever owned. I appreciate the responses I get when I ask a question I'm sure everyone on this site would consider an amateur question-- truth is the only thing I really know about corvettes is that I've wanted one since I was eight yrs old. I'll be 50 this year and to be honest I wasn't even really looking to buy one when I found this one! I often browse and dream ya know. Most everything out there in my price range had close to or 100,000 plus miles. Vette 196 answered me as well on this subject and suggested I post in my area to find a good corvette specialist to look over the whole car but as I said I'm new to this site and I don't know how to post "just in my area". Anyone out there have any tips? I live in Suffolk county Long Island , NY? Thanks again to all who responded!!!
What I meant by posting about a good mechanic, would be in the title (just like you started in this thread)...."need a good mechanic in the Long Island area" and in the body of the thread..."I have a 199X A4 (automatic trans), that is stock and looking for a good mechanic for my new to me vette". You could post that in the tech section or general info section
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2019
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From: Park City, TN
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