I have an 85 coupe that has been giving me problems when I sometimes start the car. It doesn't happen all the time...more often if the car's been sitting for a while (several hours or days). When I turn the ignition key, there's a clicking sound (motor doesn't turn over). I try one or two more times and it finally kicks over and starts. It has never left me stranded. It will always start after several attempts. If I drive, turn the car off and then come back a short time later it usually kicks over right away. I noticed that when I start the car the voltage on the instrument cluster drops to 8-9 volts and then jumps up to 13-14 once it's started. The most irritating part of this whole problem is that the settings on the radio/CD (Jensen) go back to the default settings (stations and clock). I've had it to a car audio installer and they checked it out and said that the constant hot wire, etc. are all connected correctly. I've had it to a Chevy dealer and they've cleaned the battery terminals and even replaced the battery...still happens. This same dealer also replaced the alternator and starter within the last 8 months. They say they can't find anything wrong with it. Before I throw away more good money can anyone give me some advice on what it might be and how to fix it?

Thanks for any help you might give me

 

It sounds to me like the solenoid is bad, you can replace that by itself .

And if your ambititous change the positive battery cable.

 

Check battery first......starter 2nd.....
just a thought...
tony
:smash: :smash: :smash:

 

Sounds like the solenoid to me as well, but if the battery's positive terminal is loose, it'll cause the same thing.

 

You have the symptoms of a poor battery connection. Remove battery cables (neg first), clean the cable lugs and the battery terminals and replace the cables (neg last). You want your cable connections to be like your lover, ....bright and tight. :D
Also, measure the battery voltage at the battery terminals with a voltmeter while cranking. The battery voltage should not fall below 9.0 volts or its discharged or at the end of its life.

 

When I first got my 85 last fall I had a similar problem. :iagree: All of the suggestions so far on this thread are valid and excellent suggestions. Any one of them could be your culprit. Lemme first say that this kind of starting issue has been around since the bowtie was a bolo, so if your dealership couldn't find the problem; time to punt them! My suggestion given that you mentioned that volts drop to 9 or thereabouts (below 11) when you crank the engine is that you might have a bad winding in the starter motor causing excessive draw upon the battery. You mentioned that your stereo loses the presets when this happens too indicating either a direct short (pesky winding)... or ... as in my case... the positive cable at the starter had loosened and was intermittently disconnecting(this caused an alternator failure btw). When the connection was lost completely(Superbowl Sunday right after my beloved Raiders lost (choked). I thought I had blown a fusible link. It was when I was inspecting them that I found the loose connection. Bottom line and I believe I can say this without fear of retribution...your trouble is at your starter. :cool:


[Modified by MtlSphere, 12:37 AM 6/28/2003]