Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Car guys- starter help

Yes sir.
It seems to always be the solenoid.

Sounds like you got it all figured out. Go fix it...

Simple, not only did you bypass the switch and NSS you also bypassed that little disc in the solenoid and put battery power directly to the starter.

Did you check the ground and hit it with a hammer?

Try unplugging it and then plug it back in. If that doesn’t work cut the red wire, that always works.

Is Mom still paying the child support? LOL, Really loud.

For those with a short memory, or short tenure, referencing a classic joke thread from many years ago.
And, yes, I know it ain't funny to those in need of an explanation.

...................1st.....Check battery itself and the terminal connections on the battery. If all good then check connections to starter as well as wire from battery to the starter......Sounds like a short to me.....An electrical shop to trace the problem might save you from a fishing expedition.

Bill, you said it's a 69. Does it have a starter relay on the inner fender?

If so, that is where I would start my diagnostics. It is easy to get to, a likely culprit, cheap and easy to replace.

Grab a volt meter and have a helper hit the starter switch. Check for current coming into and out of the relay.

No power into the relay, continue troubleshooting toward the ignition switch.

Power into the relay, but no power out, easy fix.

Power out of the relay, trouble shoot your wiring to the solenoid. You already know the solenoid is good, it started with the remote starter switch.

And yes, the nuetral safety switch may well be your culprit. I have only dealt with manual trans, or else found the trouble to be the relay on my auto trans vehicles.

Good luck.

You ask for help, them ridicule those who try to offer help. Sweet!

It sounds like the starter and battery are good. That leaves the ignition switch, solenoid, or shifter safety switch.

It ain’t that hard.

Gee, this brings back "fond" memories of changing a starter in the family '78 Chevy during the summertime in Phoenix. The front suspension limited removing the starter to one vertical position through or by the a-arm. This was discovered after much trial and error.

Naturally, the starter and connections were covered in a thick combination of dirt and oil, and were hot, even in the early morning. All the work was by touch and feel, the car jacked up on jack stands, wooden blocks and a jack for safety. If I remember correctly, the two nuts on the small wire connections to the solenoid were different sizes. Reach up, feel.around, wipe greasy dirt off the connection and try to get a wrench on.

Once everything was was off and out, wash grease off of hands and arms with gojo. Clean the mating surfaces and wires as best as possible, then install the new starter. Hold it with one hand and install the bolts with the other. Then,getting those small solenoid wires and nuts on by feel. The shop manual discussed swimming the starter for the correct spacing with the flywheel. No way to do it. Just stick her in.

We had used cars for years, and it seems I was working on them just about every weekend. Ford starters were much easier than Chevys, Chevy water pumps much easier than Fords. Chevy also had that nice window in the distributor cap to adjust the points.

Didn't mind working on cars back then. Grew up helping my dad work on the family cars and his antique cars. Nowadays am grateful for the.relatively maintenance-free vehicles and let the dealer handle most issues.

Sorry about the rambling, your post brought back memories/nightmares!

Some great advice has been provided in this thread, follow it and you will get her fixed.

Leave the starter alone, all you have to do is drop the auto tranny out, and put in a manual tranny. That way you can coast start it. Always park on a hill!!
Sorry, hope you find the problem. Had a 1984 Corvette that had the heat soak problem. Drive it somewhere, shut it off , then wait 2 or 3 hours before it would start again.

I always carried a spare, ph uck I became the starter king when it came to pullIng a starter on the chevy’s. One hand holding other with a wrench. I remember one time I thought I positioned the starter just right to rest on my front driveline ph uck that thing slipped hit me in the head ph uck that hurt. Then I joined the Army as a light wheel mechanic guess what I got to use my skill as the starter king on them damn [bleep] starters on the hmmv. Ph ucking starters

Your problem is something vibrated loose between home and the dinner place.

Starter is somewhere next to the flywheel.

Maybe you have a fuel leak since after you asked and got a bunch of replies you shot flames out of the air intake.

when rehabing this, did the engine come out? if so, was the body ground from the bellhousing to the trans tunnel get reinstalled? if you didn't have the motor out, did the previous owner? that being said, i'm banking on the solenoid. used to replace them all the time. by the way, if the engine isn't stock, installing 6v battery cables is
usually a good idea. good luck!

The heat soak thing is usually due to a weak solenoid, a bunch of gunk in the starter &/or worn brushes.

Somebody also said, big block. But he worst heat related prob is Headers, freakin headers. They sound great, even closed, make confirmed power. But the sum bucks are always causing a problem or 2 or 5.

This^^

It's usually the solenoid. Same thing with the older Fords. Chevy makes it a bit harder since the solenoid is on the starter, the Fords had them mounted on the inside of the fender behind the battery. When they'd go out you could start the car by taking two screwdrivers and jumping the solenoid.

It's easy enough to trace down with a multimeter and a helper but to tell the truth I'd just go pay the $20 bucks for a new solenoid and replace it, it's most likely your problem.

Guys, relax. He’s got this. He has personally touched 75% of the nuts and bolts in this car. One things for certain, it must be in the 25% he hasn’t yet touched, because I bet the rest is perfect.

Two things:

1. I've no mechanical abilities at all, but I just wanted to say "hi" and say that I am glad to see you are well.

2. I immediately caught the Billy Bob Thornton quote from Tombstone. It's one of my favorite movies.

Take Care!