Hard starting questions/concerns - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Jmac05 · 09-24-2002, 10:08 AM

On sunday morning, the battery was dead as a doorknob. I jumped it with a marine battery, and bought a charger.
But know it seems to be harder to re-start after it's been running. (Like if I stop for gas). Is the starter going bad? The battery isn't dead, but it kind of acts like it is. It turns over and hesistates, then finally fires up.
Any suggestions?

mt Al · 09-24-2002, 10:28 AM

Jmac05, last time that happened to me my starter was the problem. It got progressively worse and finally started to melt the cable clamps whenever I turned it over. Apparently, the starter was causing a dead short.

Bought a new starter ($36 or something) and spent way too long putting it in, changed the cables (MAKES SURE THE GROUND IS PROPERLY CONNECTED, CLEAN, ETC.) and its worked fine since then, thank God.

Jmac05 · 09-24-2002, 10:29 AM

Thanks, Dude! Can you give me some advice on the install?

Lippyp · 09-24-2002, 01:03 PM

Mine is going the same way and lots of people have advised me to shell out an extra $15 or so to get a starter heat shield to fit when I put a new starter on. Mr Gasket etc make these or you can bend up your own from sheet aluminium. It should prolong the life of your new starter enormously especially if you are running headers as starters get fried by the heat over time. Mine starts fine when it's cold but is a b***ch when hot.

busterwivell · 09-24-2002, 01:50 PM

Or you could go with a mini-starter like I did. I was replacing a starter every 6 months. The mini has been on 14 months and doing fine!

Gordo · 09-24-2002, 05:51 PM

First give your bat a full charge then take your battery to your local parts store and let them load test it, if it fails buy a new bat, if it passes buy a new/rebuilt starter. If your bat was "dead as a door knob" Sunday morning I would check your battery and charging system and electrical system for problems first.

mt Al · 09-25-2002, 10:04 AM

Jmac05,

I'm about the last person who should be giving advice on installing a starter, so others are welcome to correct me on this:

I just unhooked the wires on the solenoid (three, I think), took out the two long bolts that hold it in (they come straight down, can't miss them), fished the dog gone thing through the header collectors (I'll be doing it on an non-header truck is a bit easier?), fished the new one in place, put in the bolts, hooked up the wires and fired it up.

What's missing here is a discussion on using shims to properly line up the starter. Apparently some trucks need to have shims installed. I was hoping that mine didn't and I haven't heard anything nasty down there yet.

If a desk jockey like me can do it, anyone can.

adamls · 09-25-2002, 10:30 AM

Im with Gordo, if the battery was dead then the first thing I would look at is the electrical system. Check the alternator. If it is not charging correctly then you could be running off of the battery and not the alternator. This would drain the battery and cause your starter to drag at startup.

Jmac05 · 10-07-2002, 10:00 AM

I found the answer on sunday afternoon. It wasn't the starter, or the battery, but the + terminal on the battery cable. I will have pictures sometime soon of what's left of some $9 cables I bought.
I tried to jump my truck from my wife's car. There isn't much left of the cables...

Moral:
If you are having any problems with electrical in an old vehicle check the terminals first!

I'll have pictures and more details on what happened. It was awesome and scary at the same time...

TERRYP · 10-07-2002, 03:15 PM

If you have too much advance timing, starting will balk, same if vacuum advance is stuck on.

09-24-2002, 10:08 AM	#1
Jmac05 L.E.D. Tail lights, Baby! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Corona, Ca Posts: 290	Hard starting questions/concerns On sunday morning, the battery was dead as a doorknob. I jumped it with a marine battery, and bought a charger. But know it seems to be harder to re-start after it's been running. (Like if I stop for gas). Is the starter going bad? The battery isn't dead, but it kind of acts like it is. It turns over and hesistates, then finally fires up. Any suggestions? __________________ *Prov 3:5-8* "Hook 'em" L.E.D. Taillights for sale NOW!!! If interested, visit: www.earlyclassic.com or our website: www.jmcled.com All 67-72 GM Taillights are on sale untill 5 p.m. on Dec 15th, with Guaranteed Christmas delivery! joel.mcwaters@jmcled.com

09-24-2002, 10:28 AM	#2
mt Al Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Bozeman, Montana Posts: 243	Jmac05, last time that happened to me my starter was the problem. It got progressively worse and finally started to melt the cable clamps whenever I turned it over. Apparently, the starter was causing a dead short. Bought a new starter ($36 or something) and spent way too long putting it in, changed the cables (MAKES SURE THE GROUND IS PROPERLY CONNECTED, CLEAN, ETC.) and its worked fine since then, thank God. __________________ '72 GMC 1/2T 4x4 1500 Super Custom pickup (current) past rides were: '70 Chev 2wd farm truck '71 GMC 2wd 1/2T 402 nice! '72 Chev 2wd 1/2T 396 '72 GMC 3/4T 4x4 2500 Super Custom suburban. Bozeman, Montana

09-24-2002, 10:29 AM	#3
Jmac05 L.E.D. Tail lights, Baby! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Corona, Ca Posts: 290	Thanks, Dude! Can you give me some advice on the install? __________________ *Prov 3:5-8* "Hook 'em" L.E.D. Taillights for sale NOW!!! If interested, visit: www.earlyclassic.com or our website: www.jmcled.com All 67-72 GM Taillights are on sale untill 5 p.m. on Dec 15th, with Guaranteed Christmas delivery! joel.mcwaters@jmcled.com

09-24-2002, 01:03 PM	#4
Lippyp English Chevy Owner Join Date: May 2002 Location: Shropshire, UK/ Lot, France Posts: 1,848	Mine is going the same way and lots of people have advised me to shell out an extra $15 or so to get a starter heat shield to fit when I put a new starter on. Mr Gasket etc make these or you can bend up your own from sheet aluminium. It should prolong the life of your new starter enormously especially if you are running headers as starters get fried by the heat over time. Mine starts fine when it's cold but is a b***ch when hot. __________________ Phil '67 C10 long fleet. 350/TH350, 4 bbl Carter, K&N, Dual exhaust, loads of stuff coming soon 2001 S10 Blazer Daily Driver, bone stock 4 door 4x4 with manual transmission

09-24-2002, 01:50 PM	#5
busterwivell Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Sahuarita, AZ USA Posts: 2,033	Or you could go with a mini-starter like I did. I was replacing a starter every 6 months. The mini has been on 14 months and doing fine! __________________ Bill - Tucson, AZ 47 Chevrolet 2 dr sedan 56 Chevrolet 210 2 dr sedan 66 Chevrolet Malibu 2 dr 4 speed 71 Chevrolet C30 Longhorn 86 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS (Sold) 01 Chevrolet Tahoe IM - BUSTERWIVE@aol.com

09-24-2002, 05:51 PM	#6
Gordo Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Killingworth, CT. USA Posts: 3,378	First give your bat a full charge then take your battery to your local parts store and let them load test it, if it fails buy a new bat, if it passes buy a new/rebuilt starter. If your bat was "dead as a door knob" Sunday morning I would check your battery and charging system and electrical system for problems first. __________________ 1971 C10 swb stepside 350/700R4/3.73posi (retired as of 4/22/03) 1998 S10 short bed 2002 S10 Blazer 1942 Oldsmobile 1958 Massey Harris Pony 1951 Wife Killingworth, Connecticut May those who love us, love us, any of those who do not love us, may God turn their hearts. And if God is unable to turn their hearts, may he turn their ankles so we may know them by their limping. A man who works with his hands is a laborer; a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist.

09-25-2002, 10:04 AM	#7
mt Al Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Bozeman, Montana Posts: 243	Jmac05, I'm about the last person who should be giving advice on installing a starter, so others are welcome to correct me on this: I just unhooked the wires on the solenoid (three, I think), took out the two long bolts that hold it in (they come straight down, can't miss them), fished the dog gone thing through the header collectors (I'll be doing it on an non-header truck is a bit easier?), fished the new one in place, put in the bolts, hooked up the wires and fired it up. What's missing here is a discussion on using shims to properly line up the starter. Apparently some trucks need to have shims installed. I was hoping that mine didn't and I haven't heard anything nasty down there yet. If a desk jockey like me can do it, anyone can. __________________ '72 GMC 1/2T 4x4 1500 Super Custom pickup (current) past rides were: '70 Chev 2wd farm truck '71 GMC 2wd 1/2T 402 nice! '72 Chev 2wd 1/2T 396 '72 GMC 3/4T 4x4 2500 Super Custom suburban. Bozeman, Montana

09-25-2002, 10:30 AM	#8
adamls Gotta Startem Early Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Amarillo, TX, USA Posts: 364	Im with Gordo, if the battery was dead then the first thing I would look at is the electrical system. Check the alternator. If it is not charging correctly then you could be running off of the battery and not the alternator. This would drain the battery and cause your starter to drag at startup. __________________ 67 SWB In Progress, one piece at a time, maybe 3 years I will be finished

10-07-2002, 10:00 AM	#9
Jmac05 L.E.D. Tail lights, Baby! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Corona, Ca Posts: 290	I found the answer on sunday afternoon. It wasn't the starter, or the battery, but the + terminal on the battery cable. I will have pictures sometime soon of what's left of some $9 cables I bought. I tried to jump my truck from my wife's car. There isn't much left of the cables... Moral: If you are having any problems with electrical in an old vehicle check the terminals first! I'll have pictures and more details on what happened. It was awesome and scary at the same time... __________________ *Prov 3:5-8* "Hook 'em" L.E.D. Taillights for sale NOW!!! If interested, visit: www.earlyclassic.com or our website: www.jmcled.com All 67-72 GM Taillights are on sale untill 5 p.m. on Dec 15th, with Guaranteed Christmas delivery! joel.mcwaters@jmcled.com

10-07-2002, 03:15 PM	#10
TERRYP GYRO GEARLOOSE Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Nevada City, CAEverett, WA Posts: 361	If you have too much advance timing, starting will balk, same if vacuum advance is stuck on.

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