Bad Starter?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
From: Brownstown MI.
Bad Starter?
When I try to start my 84 I just get clicking from the starter.
Battery is showing 12.6 V charge.
When I boost it with a jump pack it will start.
Alt is charging at 14.7 V when running.
Could the solenoid be bad?
Why will it only start with a boost when battery is fully charged?
Any help greatly appreciated.
Battery is showing 12.6 V charge.
When I boost it with a jump pack it will start.
Alt is charging at 14.7 V when running.
Could the solenoid be bad?
Why will it only start with a boost when battery is fully charged?
Any help greatly appreciated.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,965
Likes: 343
From: Shell Point (Crawfordville) Florida
12.6-12.8V is a normal resting charged battery voltage - 2.1V per cell. 13.2-14.1V would be charging voltage with the engine running. Your voltage of 14.7 while engine is running means your alternator is trying to put out high voltage to charge your battery. And to measure the correct voltage, you need to check it after the battery has been sitting a while, otherwise you are reading a "surface charge".
Like said above, you need to get it load tested, that is the only way to determine the health of a battery. It may read normal voltage at rest but have less than normal current output capacity.
What does your voltage read when trying to start the car? It probably drops down to less than 10V because the car won't start. My Z and the previous C5 I had will start with battery voltage as low as 10V while cranking and this is commonly known.
Like said above, you need to get it load tested, that is the only way to determine the health of a battery. It may read normal voltage at rest but have less than normal current output capacity.
What does your voltage read when trying to start the car? It probably drops down to less than 10V because the car won't start. My Z and the previous C5 I had will start with battery voltage as low as 10V while cranking and this is commonly known.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,676
Likes: 751
From: NEwhere Ohio
12.6v (with engine off) sounds good.
If you rule out the battery…
check the starter solenoid contacts and see if they are worn down.
this was the situation on my 1993.
so i replaced them.
however…i must have kinked the single core copper wire leading to one of the contacts.
because i again started having issues with the starter. (Turning the key, sometimes it would click and crank, other times it wouldnt)
so i took it aprt again and noticed the solid core copper wire had broken.
soldered it and all is good
If you rule out the battery…
check the starter solenoid contacts and see if they are worn down.
this was the situation on my 1993.
so i replaced them.
however…i must have kinked the single core copper wire leading to one of the contacts.
because i again started having issues with the starter. (Turning the key, sometimes it would click and crank, other times it wouldnt)
so i took it aprt again and noticed the solid core copper wire had broken.
soldered it and all is good
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
If battery passes the 'load test' a maybe 30+ year old Delco-Remy starter quite likely deserves a 'tune-up' brushes, bushings and yes a solenoid could be considered maintenance! If the starter has an original Delco Remy tag I'd do the maintenance and avoid the purchase of a reman. A 'local' reman of yours if DIY doesn't interest you.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
12.6v (with engine off) sounds good.
If you rule out the battery…
check the starter solenoid contacts and see if they are worn down.
this was the situation on my 1993.
so i replaced them.
however…i must have kinked the single core copper wire leading to one of the contacts.
because i again started having issues with the starter. (Turning the key, sometimes it would click and crank, other times it wouldnt)
so i took it aprt again and noticed the solid core copper wire had broken.
soldered it and all is good
If you rule out the battery…
check the starter solenoid contacts and see if they are worn down.
this was the situation on my 1993.
so i replaced them.
however…i must have kinked the single core copper wire leading to one of the contacts.
because i again started having issues with the starter. (Turning the key, sometimes it would click and crank, other times it wouldnt)
so i took it aprt again and noticed the solid core copper wire had broken.
soldered it and all is good