Starter troubles - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

crm318 · 03-05-2010, 04:47 PM

The other night, I tried to start my truck (after a conciderable amount of driving) and it just barley bumped the motor once and stopped. I had a friend jump me and it started right up perfectly on one little bump of the key. I had the battery tested and they said that it had 100% charge. Today, I tried to started and it did the same thing. could it be a bad soleniod? What do yall think?

rogergodding · 03-05-2010, 04:50 PM

Sounds like heat soak.... are you running headers?

rogergodding · 03-05-2010, 04:51 PM

I see you are running headers from your sig. The solenoid/starter are probably just getting too hot.

Longhorn Man · 03-05-2010, 05:04 PM

sounds like heat soak to me too. Anything you do now is just a bandaid, time for a new starter, and maybe a heatshield.
A lotta people say the mini starters aren't effected by the heat, may want to try that route.

rogergodding · 03-05-2010, 05:06 PM

skip white mini on ebay $85!! I have the red one.

1-PU70 · 03-05-2010, 05:21 PM

Its time for a Ford solenoid. I switched to one years ago and put all my starting problems behide me.

68gmsee · 03-05-2010, 05:40 PM

It's either a bad solenoid or the starter itself.

Some things that go bad on these starters is the copper washer inside the solenoid gets pitted and burnt and won't make proper contact. The symptom is just a clicking sound when the solenoid picks. On some starters you can dismantle the back of the solenoind and flip the washer. Or you can sand it smooth. But best is to buy a new one for around $25 or less.

The other thing is the bearings will wear out and the armature will rub on the windings causing a hard start or no start at all. Best is to replace the starter.

The other thing is burned wires and as mentioned above heat soaking. Too much heat causes resistance that prevents the starter from turning. A new starter will eventually act up. Use heat sheilds or mini starter.

Wrenchbender Ret · 03-05-2010, 05:45 PM

Take the starter off & take it apart. If it is not burned up clean it up & put in new brushes if needed. Replace the selinoid & put a shield over it. These arn't that hard to work on yourself & they are strong & dependable. PU has a great sugestion. Useing a Ford type selinoid as a relay does away with the voltage drop from the harness & can solve a lot of problems.

Sinister · 03-05-2010, 06:37 PM

F@rd solenoid here solved my hot start problems.

**VetteVet** · 03-05-2010, 07:27 PM

'This is the best way to wire it IMO.

pat 70/71 · 03-05-2010, 11:41 PM

hey, just a thought, check your battery cables could have a little corrosion on the ground side/ positive side (cheep fix)? hope this helps, Pat

crm318 · 03-06-2010, 09:52 PM

Well it seems that it was time for a new battery. I got a new one and it has fixed everything.

03-05-2010, 04:47 PM	#1
crm318 Alright Alright Alright Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Midland, Texas Posts: 1,672	Starter troubles The other night, I tried to start my truck (after a conciderable amount of driving) and it just barley bumped the motor once and stopped. I had a friend jump me and it started right up perfectly on one little bump of the key. I had the battery tested and they said that it had 100% charge. Today, I tried to started and it did the same thing. could it be a bad soleniod? What do yall think? __________________ 1972 Cheyenne Chevrolet red and white 357ci, Vortec heads, GM Performance high rise intake, Comp 268H .454/.454 218/218 110 LSA Quadrajet carb, Flowtech headers, 2.25 40 series HEI, Curve kit, TH 350, 3.07 gears 275/60/15s on 15x8 rallies

03-05-2010, 04:50 PM	#2
rogergodding Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sachse, Texas Posts: 614	Re: Starter troubles Sounds like heat soak.... are you running headers?

03-05-2010, 04:51 PM	#3
rogergodding Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sachse, Texas Posts: 614	Re: Starter troubles I see you are running headers from your sig. The solenoid/starter are probably just getting too hot.

03-05-2010, 05:04 PM	#4
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: Starter troubles sounds like heat soak to me too. Anything you do now is just a bandaid, time for a new starter, and maybe a heatshield. A lotta people say the mini starters aren't effected by the heat, may want to try that route.

03-05-2010, 05:06 PM	#5
rogergodding Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sachse, Texas Posts: 614	Re: Starter troubles skip white mini on ebay $85!! I have the red one.

03-05-2010, 05:21 PM	#6
1-PU70 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 1,036	Re: Starter troubles Its time for a Ford solenoid. I switched to one years ago and put all my starting problems behide me. __________________ 1970 CST/10 402,700R4,3:73 posi,AC,PS,PB,TLT,PW,Buckets with heaters

03-05-2010, 05:40 PM	#7
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: Starter troubles It's either a bad solenoid or the starter itself. Some things that go bad on these starters is the copper washer inside the solenoid gets pitted and burnt and won't make proper contact. The symptom is just a clicking sound when the solenoid picks. On some starters you can dismantle the back of the solenoind and flip the washer. Or you can sand it smooth. But best is to buy a new one for around $25 or less. The other thing is the bearings will wear out and the armature will rub on the windings causing a hard start or no start at all. Best is to replace the starter. The other thing is burned wires and as mentioned above heat soaking. Too much heat causes resistance that prevents the starter from turning. A new starter will eventually act up. Use heat sheilds or mini starter.

03-05-2010, 05:45 PM	#8
Wrenchbender Ret Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Overland Park, Ks. Posts: 5,229	Re: Starter troubles Take the starter off & take it apart. If it is not burned up clean it up & put in new brushes if needed. Replace the selinoid & put a shield over it. These arn't that hard to work on yourself & they are strong & dependable. PU has a great sugestion. Useing a Ford type selinoid as a relay does away with the voltage drop from the harness & can solve a lot of problems.

03-05-2010, 06:37 PM	#9
Sinister Between Trucks... Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA. Posts: 3,830	Re: Starter troubles F@rd solenoid here solved my hot start problems. __________________ Beat it to fit, Paint it to match...

03-05-2010, 07:27 PM	#10
VetteVet Msgt USAF Ret Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 8,719	Re: Starter troubles 'This is the best way to wire it IMO. Attached Images __________________ VetteVet metallic green 67 stepside 74 corvette convertible 1965 Harley sportster 1995 Harley wide glide Growing old is hell, but it beats the alternative.

03-05-2010, 11:41 PM	#11
pat 70/71 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: newbury park california Posts: 1,038	Re: Starter troubles hey, just a thought, check your battery cables could have a little corrosion on the ground side/ positive side (cheep fix)? hope this helps, Pat

03-06-2010, 09:52 PM	#12
crm318 Alright Alright Alright Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Midland, Texas Posts: 1,672	Re: Starter troubles Well it seems that it was time for a new battery. I got a new one and it has fixed everything. __________________ 1972 Cheyenne Chevrolet red and white 357ci, Vortec heads, GM Performance high rise intake, Comp 268H .454/.454 218/218 110 LSA Quadrajet carb, Flowtech headers, 2.25 40 series HEI, Curve kit, TH 350, 3.07 gears 275/60/15s on 15x8 rallies



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