starter problems - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

big blue 72 · 07-10-2002, 10:22 AM

gotta continuing probelm with my starter.
when i first start it, evrything is o.k. but if i turn it off and have to start it say, 2 or 3 times in an hour, in seems to turn slower or will sometimes click. brand new battery and cables.
any help guys?

*Randy70C-10* · 07-10-2002, 10:55 AM

Check your alternator and make sure that all bolts and brackets are tight, and there is good metal to metal ground between the brackets and engine.

big blue 72 · 07-10-2002, 11:04 AM

thanks randy, i will check those. appreciate the help.

Longhorn Man · 07-10-2002, 05:19 PM

You have headers on that rig? Sounds like heat soak to me.

pierce · 07-10-2002, 05:30 PM

Like Longhornmail said...very common problem with headers and GM starters. Try a heat sheild around the starter for a cheap fix.

Longhorn Man · 07-10-2002, 05:56 PM

After checking your battery connections, (on both ends of both wires) to troubleshoot it, go for a drive at 3 in the afternoon, better yet, the freeway at rush hr. Heat it up real good. Pull into a Quike-Mart or 7-11, and **** it off. Go in and get a bottle of water (large one that is real cold) and get a mtn dew. Get a dew for me while your in there...I'm out.

If it don't start, take the water and dump it on the starter. If it starts, then go to the parts store, get a new starter, and order a heat shield if no one in town has one. I'd wait to install the new starter untill the shield is in hand...otherwise, you'll R-R it twice, and if you do in fact have headers...you won't want to do it twice...trust me.
Or you could just get a life time starter, and see how long untill you get to return it...that's what I'm doing....2 years so far.

(knock on wood grain)

chevyman 68 C/10 · 07-10-2002, 09:58 PM

Header wrap works great on the starter to reduce heat failure. Maybe you have a buddy that has a little left from wraping his headers.

Sinister · 07-10-2002, 10:50 PM

i got a solenoid heat shield at an auto parts place...
then i took a bunch of aluminum tape
and some fiber glass insulation and made a metalcover blanket deal and just taped it to the starter on the exhaust side...
works great...
before the next road trip however i'm gonna
go to welding supply place and get some welding blanket or such
as well as put a remote solenoid in...
it sucks being stranded in BFE...

Longhorn Man · 07-10-2002, 11:48 PM

That header wrap will destroy your headers. It cuts the life in 1/2.
For uncoated headers, your looking at a 7 or so year life span.
Not good IMO.

Scrub · 07-11-2002, 01:15 AM

The truck in the picture to the left has over a million miles on it. I have put about 12 starters on it. I know I need a new one when it does what you just said. Starts fine cold, but drags when hot.

My advice, got to NAPA and get a rebuilt starter.

also, pick up a little two wire rubber electrical disconect. (like the one that new pickups have for trailer lights) cut the small wires that go to your solenoid and splice the disconect in. That way you can do the hard wiring on the bench and just snap the dosconect together under the truck. It makes life much easier.

Good luck

Hooter · 07-11-2002, 01:21 AM

I used an asbetos mit to wrap my starter works like a hot damn against the headers

big blue 72 · 07-11-2002, 10:18 AM

Thanks for the input gang. Seems like the hot weather brings out the worst in machinery.
Hey , Pierce , where do you live in Cincy? good lookin ol 'horn ya got.

07-10-2002, 10:22 AM	#1
big blue 72 Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: hamilton,ohio,usa Posts: 1,499	starter problems gotta continuing probelm with my starter. when i first start it, evrything is o.k. but if i turn it off and have to start it say, 2 or 3 times in an hour, in seems to turn slower or will sometimes click. brand new battery and cables. any help guys?

07-10-2002, 05:30 PM	#5
pierce Registered User Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Cincinnati,OH,USA Posts: 464	Like Longhornmail said...very common problem with headers and GM starters. Try a heat sheild around the starter for a cheap fix. __________________ 69 GMC 1 Ton Longhorn 37 Chevy Coupe

07-10-2002, 09:58 PM	#7
chevyman 68 C/10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Gilmer, Texas USA Posts: 313	Header wrap works great on the starter to reduce heat failure. Maybe you have a buddy that has a little left from wraping his headers. __________________ 69 Chevy short fleet side soon to have LT1 and 4L60E pb. ps cruise and air. 68 Chevy short fleet side 400 sb 5 inch chop top pb. ps. pw. 350 auto and shaved handles 68 anniversary no engine long wheel base 400 auto FOR SALE 68 Chevy fleet side long wheel base complete parts truck.

07-10-2002, 10:50 PM	#8
Sinister Between Trucks... Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA. Posts: 3,830	i got a solenoid heat shield at an auto parts place... then i took a bunch of aluminum tape and some fiber glass insulation and made a metalcover blanket deal and just taped it to the starter on the exhaust side... works great... before the next road trip however i'm gonna go to welding supply place and get some welding blanket or such as well as put a remote solenoid in... it sucks being stranded in BFE... __________________ Beat it to fit, Paint it to match...

07-11-2002, 01:15 AM	#10
Scrub Collector of rusty Items Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Sisters,Oregon USA Posts: 731	The truck in the picture to the left has over a million miles on it. I have put about 12 starters on it. I know I need a new one when it does what you just said. Starts fine cold, but drags when hot. My advice, got to NAPA and get a rebuilt starter. also, pick up a little two wire rubber electrical disconect. (like the one that new pickups have for trailer lights) cut the small wires that go to your solenoid and splice the disconect in. That way you can do the hard wiring on the bench and just snap the dosconect together under the truck. It makes life much easier. Good luck __________________ Scrub Sisters, Oregon - Home of the Sisters Rodeo. 70 GMC 1,000,000 + miles 72 K-20 project, 456 Dana60 front, Corp14 rear w/locker, 265R19.5 tires 20-ply. Warn 12k winches both ends, Cross-over steering with raised tie-rod, Powerbox steering, 4500 watt 120-AC power, Air, Hydraulic aux power, 4 inch lift, 5000 lb air-bags both ends.

07-10-2002, 10:55 AM	#2
Randy70C-10 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Virginia Beach, Va. U.S.A. Posts: 15,320	Check your alternator and make sure that all bolts and brackets are tight, and there is good metal to metal ground between the brackets and engine.

07-10-2002, 11:04 AM	#3
big blue 72 Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: hamilton,ohio,usa Posts: 1,499	thanks randy, i will check those. appreciate the help.

07-10-2002, 05:19 PM	#4
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	You have headers on that rig? Sounds like heat soak to me.

07-10-2002, 05:56 PM	#6
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	After checking your battery connections, (on both ends of both wires) to troubleshoot it, go for a drive at 3 in the afternoon, better yet, the freeway at rush hr. Heat it up real good. Pull into a Quike-Mart or 7-11, and **** it off. Go in and get a bottle of water (large one that is real cold) and get a mtn dew. Get a dew for me while your in there...I'm out. If it don't start, take the water and dump it on the starter. If it starts, then go to the parts store, get a new starter, and order a heat shield if no one in town has one. I'd wait to install the new starter untill the shield is in hand...otherwise, you'll R-R it twice, and if you do in fact have headers...you won't want to do it twice...trust me. Or you could just get a life time starter, and see how long untill you get to return it...that's what I'm doing....2 years so far. (knock on wood grain)

07-10-2002, 11:48 PM	#9
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	That header wrap will destroy your headers. It cuts the life in 1/2. For uncoated headers, your looking at a 7 or so year life span. Not good IMO.

07-11-2002, 01:21 AM	#11
Hooter My other Love Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Castlegar B.C. Canada Posts: 4,085	I used an asbetos mit to wrap my starter works like a hot damn against the headers __________________ Castlegar B.C.The great white North (Canada Eh!) Hooter_5@hotmail.com First generation Monte Carlo club pictures of my life

07-11-2002, 10:18 AM	#12
big blue 72 Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: hamilton,ohio,usa Posts: 1,499	Thanks for the input gang. Seems like the hot weather brings out the worst in machinery. Hey , Pierce , where do you live in Cincy? good lookin ol 'horn ya got.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.