"Dead spot" on starter?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 896
Likes: 1
From: Ewing NJ
"Dead spot" on starter?
Hello CF denizens.
My 2000 has an intermittent starter problem. Sometimes when I turn the key I hear a clank that sounds like the starter solenoid engaging, but the starter itself doesn't crank. (Clank But No Crank Syndrome) Usually, after a dozen or so turns of the key to the start position, the car will start. There might be several successful starts, and then it happens again. Wednesday I had to get a push and then pop the clutch to get the car to start.
Does this sound like I have to replace the starter, or could it be something else? Are there any tricks to work around the problem until I can get it fixed? (It's not the battery or the clutch safety switch.)
Thanks in advance!
My 2000 has an intermittent starter problem. Sometimes when I turn the key I hear a clank that sounds like the starter solenoid engaging, but the starter itself doesn't crank. (Clank But No Crank Syndrome) Usually, after a dozen or so turns of the key to the start position, the car will start. There might be several successful starts, and then it happens again. Wednesday I had to get a push and then pop the clutch to get the car to start.
Does this sound like I have to replace the starter, or could it be something else? Are there any tricks to work around the problem until I can get it fixed? (It's not the battery or the clutch safety switch.)
Thanks in advance!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
the solenoid gets distorted from the heat of the exhaust manifold and does not allow the solenoid to fully engage. You should be looking at getting a new starter before you get stuck. This is a common problem.. You cant find just the solenoid, so you need a new starter which comes with a new solenoid. If you doo get stuck, you can tap on the solenoid if you can reach it, and will, in most cases , free itself.. you need something like a pry bar or a hammer with about a foot of reach.
Last edited by Evil-Twin; May 3, 2013 at 04:13 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 896
Likes: 1
From: Ewing NJ
That's interesting. I always thought that "hammer & crowbar" fix was just a myth from HS shop class! I'll get 'er over to a Vette mechanic ASAP. The cause sounds like an interesting design flaw.
Many thanks!
...Bob
Many thanks!
...Bob
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Design flaw????? your car is 13 years old. When things break its usually because they are worn out. Things don't last forever. Everyone points to a design flaw.. The starter has to go into the flywheel, there isn't a whole lot of real estate or places to put a starter. Two exhaust manifolds occupy almost the same space as any potential place to put a starter.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
Design flaw????? your car is 13 years old. When things break its usually because they are worn out. Things don't last forever. Everyone points to a design flaw.. The starter has to go into the flywheel, there isn't a whole lot of real estate or places to put a starter. Two exhaust manifolds occupy almost the same space as any potential place to put a starter.
Making that statement to you ET as one of the original designers , is like poking a stick into a hornets nest. It's amazing how people still look at these cars as being new and think that there shouldn't be any breakdowns . 
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
From: Ithaca NY
the solenoid gets distorted from the heat of the exhaust manifold and does not allow the solenoid to fully engage. You should be looking at getting a new starter before you get stuck. This is a common problem.. You cant find just the solenoid, so you need a new starter which comes with a new solenoid. If you doo get stuck, you can tap on the solenoid if you can reach it, and will, in most cases , free itself.. you need something like a pry bar or a hammer with about a foot of reach.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,364
Likes: 4
From: Bedford MA
I had the same exact issue with my car earlier this year. ('02 MN6 Coupe) I did a lot of trouble shooting and it wound up being the starter. Forum Member Bill Curlee is the guy to talk to for sure, he helped me with trouble shooting and I ended up ordering the starter from Gene at GM PartsHouse...
This is what I tried:
Opening the hood and having someone use a broom handle and bang the starter from the passengers side and then try and crank it..
Use your spare key if you have it. Sometimes the pellet (resistor) is bad on the key and you might need a new one.
Also under the passenger side foot well IN the car:
1: Car in Neutral
2. E-Brake up and chock the wheels
3. Key in the on position
4: Then go under the passenger side foot well and remove the carpet and access panel. The fuse box is on the right and then there is a series of wires on the left going into a box. If you use a paper clip and insert one side in where the red wire is and the other where the purple wire is and try to jump the two.
If it starts up Then I believe it is a bad relay/wires to the starter....
Hope this helps!
If worse comes to worse I would definitely reach out to Bill Curlee for troubleshooting tips!
This is what I tried:
Opening the hood and having someone use a broom handle and bang the starter from the passengers side and then try and crank it..
Use your spare key if you have it. Sometimes the pellet (resistor) is bad on the key and you might need a new one.
Also under the passenger side foot well IN the car:
1: Car in Neutral
2. E-Brake up and chock the wheels
3. Key in the on position
4: Then go under the passenger side foot well and remove the carpet and access panel. The fuse box is on the right and then there is a series of wires on the left going into a box. If you use a paper clip and insert one side in where the red wire is and the other where the purple wire is and try to jump the two.
If it starts up Then I believe it is a bad relay/wires to the starter....
Hope this helps!
If worse comes to worse I would definitely reach out to Bill Curlee for troubleshooting tips!
Pro
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 580
Likes: 1
From: Chicago Suburb
St. Jude Donor '13
I had identical problem. Thought I had a series of bad batteries. GM Mechanic explained problem as "dead spot on starter." I later changed starter and crank position sensor (right under the starter) at the same time. All good now.
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