Well, it was true. The sometimes it start and sometimes it click was caused by burned/worn solenoid contacts.

The starter came out of the stock '95 C4 easily. There was no interference with the exhaust heat shields. All that was needed was a 15mm socket on a 6" extension, an 8mm socket for the ignition wire, and a 13mm for the bat cable. Dropped right out, and was so tiny! Hard to believe that little starter motor will turn the 350, even with gear reduction.

With the starter on my bench, I removed the three screws that hold the stamped steel cover on the solenoid. The plunger simply lifts out and the stationary contacts are held in with a couple of copper screws. At this point, I thought all of the contacts were trash.

I took the parts to a local starter rebuild shop. The guys recognized the contacts right away. The said that the plunger contact, although worn, will last the life of the motor and I shouldn't bother replacing it. They recommend replacing just the two stationary contacts. I got out of there for just a $5 spot. Wow, that's much cheaper than a new starter ($160).

I put it all back together the same way I took it apart (about 30 minutes coming out and going back in). It's working super now.

If you have the click, click, no start problem, you can save a ton of money by doing this little job yourself! I hate to think what the GM garage would charge for a new starter and installation.

Bry :party:

 

I wish all the fixes were that easy. :cheers:

 

Good for you!!! :cheers: It's so gratifying when you can fix something by using a little sweat equity and ingenuity

 

:seeya :seeya -Thanks for the info. each time I see something like this I print it and put it into my vette files.Never know when you might need to do something like this and it's always nice to save bucks! :smash:

 

Good info...part stores used to sell solenoids, Etc. seperately, but I don't think they do anymore. Your fix is even cheaper. Thanks!

:chevy

 

Congrats! I had the same problem and I think the solenoid could have been fixed. However, with over 100K miles on the original starter, I felt better putting in a reman starter ' cause i don't want to do that job again soon. Pulling your starter was easy on your vintage , but my 86 was a PITA cause the General chose to run every hard line he could think of under the starter and it is a big , heavy mother to boot!. :cheers:

 

:iagree:
Transmission fluid lines are right by it. That sucker is a lot heavier than it looks.


[Modified by 86PACER, 12:32 PM 12/19/2003]

 

FWIW, I did that to an '88 Dodge Van, and it worked for about two weeks before the plunger ruined the new contacts. :(

Hopefully yours lasts longer!

When the Starter went bad in my Vette, I thought it'd just be a solenoid change, until I got it out and the Bendix was in 6 pieces! :eek:

 

Amen! Have you ever changed the fuel filter? What should be a 10 minute job is a crammed in a nearly inaccessible location. I had to take the lines loose from the intake, body, each other and still could hardly get a wrench on the upper fitting. By the way, anyone changing the fuel filter, be sure to pull the fuse and let the motor run out of gas. Even so, have a catch pan ready because there is a surprising amount of gasoline that will be coming out (fuel filter is just about lowest point of fuel line).

Bry :iagree: