intermittent starting issues

[OKGMC4]

Been starting the engine fine for months. Then it starts with random clicking. You can turn the key and hear the starter try... it clicks and kicks out the bendix and tries but can't quite turn the engine over. Does it 1 in 10 starts, then 1 in 5 then all clicks and no good. Swapped in a different battery with more cranking amps and no change. Installed a brand new starter and it starts 10 times fine then clicking. When it starts this you can hook up jumper cables and it fires right off with no hesitation. Tried checking ground by putting a jumper cable from the negative battery cable straight to frame and more clicking. Brand new positive battery cable and it clicked twice, but then started 20 times in a row. Is it possible I have a bad ignition switch and it's randomly not letting full voltage to the solonoid? What have I missed?

[OrrieG]

Might be a bad starter solenoid. Does sit make any difference if it is hot or cold? Some solenoids will start having problems on a hot restart due to heat soak from the exhaust.

First inclination was cables that look good but are corroded on the inside but you said you changed those.

Or you might be right on the switch. You might try hot wiring around the switch (just disconnect the start circuit wires and jump them) to see if that takes away the problem. I once had a switch quit working, it would start, but when in flipped back to run the engine died.

[OKGMC4]

Makes zero difference hot or cold. Seems like there is no real pattern. The new starter came with a new solonoid and it is all new, not reman. Cables were only a few months old but I went through them anyhow just to be sure. I think the switch is the only part I havn't replaced yet but even it was a new one as of a few months ago, though a chinese street rod switch.

[CRGRS 66]

bad ground somewhere, or the solenoid
Sorry, I peek in here from time to time (had a 57 when I was in high school)

[cajundragger]

prob a ground.

I have a loose wire so mine does the same thing every now and then.

[mr48chev]

Bad ground or a high resistance in the switch or wires to the switch.

I finally did the Ford solenoid thing on my 71 GMC after similar issues and that pretty well solved the problem.

One more thing you might want to look at is making sure that the wire to the solenoid isn't touching the header or manifold at times.

[Rude Dude]

Some of the rebuilt starters use off shore solenoids and are made using aluminum wire for windings. They sometimes get hot spots (from headers)and cause the solenoid to stick at different spots causing the starter gear not to engage. Next time that you are at a auto salvage yard pull the solenoid from a factory starter those windings are copper, or as was mentioned change to a ford solenoid type, or really save yourself a lot of headache and use a high torque mini starter.

[Rude Dude]

If your ignition switch is not faulty, and you are running an HEI distributor look at the magnetic pick up it could be going bad (star shaped) below the rotor cap. I had one that would cut out occasionally. Drove me crazy trying to figure the issue out.

[OKGMC4]

I came home and the truck wouldn't start. I put the jumper on it and it fired right up. The second start just gave clicking noises. Just for fun I took out the ignition switch and jumped the terminals. It fires up. I turn the key and "click". Hotwire it and it starts again. I went to the parts store and bought a Borg Warner CS7 ignition switch and install it and it starts every single time. I guess those cheap chinese street rod switches are just crap. Can't remember what company I got it from but the switches even feel different. The Borg is twice as heavy and cost twice as much. I hope this is it...

[cajundragger]

weird.

[mknittle]

Chinese food does the same thing to me!