Well, after 5 years with NOTHING going wrong on this car (2000 C5 Coupe, only 8k miles), it appears my starter has crapped out.

I need some guidance here.

The car sat for quite awhile, went to start it, and heard the "click, click, click".

First thought, battery was down.

Charged it up, same deal. So I'm thinking the starter has failed.

Stuck in my driveway.

Any suggestions on how to verify for sure, and how tough is it to get to the starter and replace it with a rebuilt?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

tnx, Bill

 

If your battery is up, the starter solenoid will click once and hold closed until you release the ignition switch.
Still a battery problem, OR the dredded bad ground or connector.
Good luck
Norm

 

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...al+information

 

Are you sure the battery took the charge? Some have found that when the AGM fails (not sure if this is what you have) that it won't take a charge and requires replacement. I would swap in another battery just to check prior to getting into bigger things.

 

well...I doubt its the starter....BUT..if it is....hopefully it doesn't do damage to the flywheel because then you are in for more money....as far as replacement...more work if you have headers but its a few hundered for the starter I believe

 

Thanks for the replies. I'll try a fresh battery. It's a fairly new optima, so I doubt that's it, but I'll give it a try.

No headers on this car, so won't have to work around that.

I wish I could get it onto my lift. I don't look forward to crawling under the car to check ground strap or other things. I've never worked on this car, because nothing has ever gone wrong with it, so don't really know just how to proceed.

Is there is thread on the "dreaded ground strap" or "starter and/or solenoid” testing and replacement.

Is the solenoid still located on the starter like my C3? Same side (passenger) ?

I guess something had to break eventually.

Thanks again.

Bill

 

Ya.. At only 8K miles!! G.M. quality strikes again! That said, I'd check everything else first, before I pulled the starter.

 

Bill

Before you replace the starter, try this. There is a theft deterrent relay (TDR) that sometimes goes bad. it will cause a NO START condition and you will have NO CODES to tell you that it is bad.

It is located in the passengers foot well. Remove the toe board. directly above the BCM (shinney box) you will see two relays. The one that has four wires ( purple, red, yellow, yellow/black ) is the TDR.

If you test the red or purple wire with a volt meter, one of them should read +12 VDC. (cant remember which one is hot at all times. I'm at work without my books! )

If one wire reads +12 VDC the other one goes to the solinoid. If you jump the RED and PURPLE wires together, the starter will/should turn the engine over. ***WARNING*** Make SURE that the car is out of gear and the wheels are chocked!! If you have a manual she will take off! If you have the ignition on it will take off on you!!!

If that test fails, take a look at the purple or red wire (which ever one goes to the solonid from the relay) and make sure that it is properly connected and intact.

The TDR has has been known to fail (they can fill full of moisture!! BEEN THERE ) The only other electrical check to preform is to make sure that the main +12 VDC starter wire is clean and intact on the starter.

I have in the past had a sterter that failed to start and one good whack with a plastic mallet got it to start and get me home so that I could change it!

PLEASE, let me know if you need any more info on this issue. i have books at home and will get them if you need me to.

Bill Curlee

 

Thanks Bill for the info (and to any others that may want to chime in).

Norm had mentioned earlier in this thread that the solenoid would click once and then hold closed until the ignition key is released from the start position.

Well, went I turn the key to start, it continuously clicks until key is released. Does that help guide us?

But as far as the TDR, if it were faulty, seems like there would be no clicking at all as there would be no electrical power at the starter, right? If it’s not that simple, let me know, but seems logical.

I’m just trying to eliminate things logically before I tear into it this afternoon.

I’m going to change out the battery 1st, then if it’s a no go, jack it up, crawl underneath and check all electrical connections for any corrosion. (BTW, I really doubt there is going to be any corrosion anywhere. When I had it on the lift 2 weeks ago changing the oil, the bottom side of this thing looks brand new. I know, I know, it’s kind of a garage queen! )

But, nevertheless, will check for that anyway.

So, my way of thinking, if I have a solid 12+ to the starter, it almost has to be either the solenoid or the starter itself.

I’ll report back and thanks!

P.S. The clicking does NOT sound like the starter gear hitting the flywheel teeth. To me it sounds like the solenoid is “cycling” on and off.

 

Problem resolved!!!!

All of this analyzing I guess was a good thing. Turns out it was the battery!!

This is a one year old Optima. I’ve been a big supporter of their batteries, as I’ve had real good luck with them in the past 8-10 years. So I guess there’s always an exception. Hopefully I can get it replaced at a reasonable proration.

I charged it up for 12 hours prior to my original post, tried to start it again, and same thing. So, being the battery was only one year old, I pretty much went right by that issue. With the suggestions here (thanks again), I pulled out a fresh battery from one of my C3’s, and it started right up. Man, I’m sure glad I took that step. I was almost positive it couldn’t be the battery. Shows you what I know.

I appreciate everyone’s time in helping me solve this problem.

Bill