Never had a lick of trouble until Sunday afternoon. When I turned the key in the ignition all I got was a loud click from the engine compartment. The headlights were bright, power windows and all lights and accesories worked fine. After about a half dozen attempts, the starter turned over and the car started normally. I backed out of the garage, turned it off and tried to start it again. Again, the click. After a couple more attempts, I loosened and re-tightened both the battery cables and it started right up. And over the rest of Sunday it started right up at least a half-dozen times subsequent to that. Yesterday afternoon it started up fine but after my first errand stop, the same thing again only this time it only failed once before starting normally. A couple more errands run after that and not a problem. Battery is about a year old, volt meter is where it should be and the car is driven every day. The odometer just turned 70k and I'm assuming the starter/solenoid is the original. The battery cables look fine. The car has an extended warranty so whatever it is is covered, I'm just wondering how much time I've got before it won't start at all. Not knowing if it's going to start or not is beginning to take the fun out of things. Is there a simple test that can be performed with the starter still in the car by me or a reputable mechanic to determine if it is a starter/solenoid problem? Anyone else have a similar experience?

Obviously, I would have looked in the archives first for answers but seeing as we still have no archives prior to the software switch, I'm forced to ask again a question that's been asked and answered a hundred times before. Sorry and TIA...

 

Starters can DO that. From your description of the rest of the elecrical system, I'd say that is a good bet. "extended warranty"? What's the problem. Keep your hands clean and take it in.

RACE ON!!!

 

Im not real familar with the LT1, but on my L98 my starter took a dump exactly they way you are describing.

I replaced the starter and its all good now. I was at 70K also, but mines an 85

 

How long was it behaving like that before you finally replaced it? Did it quit on you completely before you had a chance to replace it? Thanks...

 

Must be the majic number. On my 90 L98 my solenoid took a dump right at 76k with the same symptoms.

 

With an extended warranty why would you wait until it dies? Take CFI's advice and go get it replaced.

 

Actually, I did take his advice and made an appointment for tomorrow afternoon to have it replaced while I wait. I was just wondering if I could avoid driving the Plymouth Neon until then....

 

Probably. It WILL get worse with time, but not THAT fast.

RACE ON!!!

 

for about 2 weeks. I finally got tired of it and got under there and replaced it.

Man--its a biotch if you do it with only the front on ramps.

 

Thanks! All I'm looking for is another twenty-four hours until I get it to the shop. The Neon became the garage queen once we bought the Vette and I'm trying to avoid racking up the miles on it...

 

It sounds like you found the problem, the battery connection. Now go back and clean the cable lugs and the battery posts and reconnect.

 

That's what I thought too after I disconnected and reconnected the cables and it started right up. But then I had the same thing happen the next day...

 

It happened the next day because loosening and tightening the battery cable bolts cleared only a small area of contact between the cable lug and the battery post and one day later that area corroded over again. Remove both cables (neg first) and clean the cable lugs and the battery posts until they are bright and reconnect the cables (neg last).

 

Thanks, will do. I don't really have the lugs and posts, there's a hex head bolt that holds the cable to the battery. AQnyway, what do you suggest I clean it with?

 

What a coincidence! I am having the exact same problem, and right in the middle of my problem the battery (Optima Red Top) had a complete short and left me stranded. The battery was under warranty so I had that replaced and hoped that the starting problem would be gone once I had it replaced.
NOT... Once it was back in the car it clicked 5 or 6 times then it started right up and started fine the rest of the day. That was last weekend and I decided to drive it to work today and it is definitely getting worse. Before I got it started to come home it took about 20 clicks before it would turn over and start. I thought I was stranded again but it started and got my home (she is good to me today).
So, it looks like I am going to be pulling the starter and getting it rebuilt.
Tobijohn, let me know if it fixes your problem so I can get mine out of the garage.

 

I certainly will. BTW, the same thing just happened again. Got in the car, six clicks or so and it started. Ran three errands and everytime after it started on the first try. Well, all it needs to do is start one more time tomorrow...

 

Each battery cable terminates into a lug. On the battery are two posts, one negative, one positive. On side terminal batteries the posts are approximately flush with the case. If there is corrosion on the lugs or posts, you can scrub it off with an old toothbrush and/or steel wool until the metal is bright. Don't get so aggressive with the cable lugs that you go through the tinning and see copper. Starter motors draw 100+ amps and require a low resistance connection to the battery in order for the battery to supply this high current.

 

Thanks, I'm on way to the shop tomorrow but while there I'll definitely have them check that as well as run a diagnostic on the starter. I'm sure the warranty company will want them to confirm that the starter really needs replacement before they authorize it. When I was monkeying around with the cables on Sunday, I actually disconnected the negative one and both the mating surfaces were bright metal...

 

FWIW--when I did my starter I found that the passenger vavle cover was leaking for quite sometime from the rear. (loose bolt) The oil was dripping down on to the starter and basically "filling it"---that's why mine went bad.

 

OK, got the new starter in this afternoon and so far so good. It did the clicking thing again when I first started it up this afternoon but of course, once I got to the shop it started over and over like a champ. They tested the battery and the connections and all was as it should be. Figured probably a dead spot on the starter. I'll update again in a couple days once I've got a chance for some more cold starts. Good guys, not a Corvette shop but they work on them and do a damn good job too. If you're looking for someone in the Boca Raton/WPB area for all the mundane stuff, let me know and I'll pass on their contact info...