Sticking starter solenoid
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Certified GM nut
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: New Milford, CT
Sticking starter solenoid
Hopefully the final post in a long series of related issues!
The starter, sometimes, when hot, will not crank. The starter will click once, and then the voltage will drop completely. Hold the key in start, you get about one click every three or four seconds. Let go of the key, the lights come back on, voltmeter goes right back up to normal. The more you try to start it, the harder it gets; the best recourse is to step away from the car for fifteen minutes, come back, and give it a shot. However, when cold, the starter works like new. Once you get the car started, though, everything is great. Voltmeter goes right up to 13.8, idles smoothly, drives beautifully.
I ran all this by my manager at work (he ran a local speed shop for 26 years). He said that, because this happens occasionally and only when hot, this was definitely the starter solenoid.
So, my question is: should I replace the solenoid, or the whole starter? This starter is two years and 40,000 miles old. Advance has a Worldwide starter for $84.99 + $12 core, but $18.99 for just the solenoid.
The starter, sometimes, when hot, will not crank. The starter will click once, and then the voltage will drop completely. Hold the key in start, you get about one click every three or four seconds. Let go of the key, the lights come back on, voltmeter goes right back up to normal. The more you try to start it, the harder it gets; the best recourse is to step away from the car for fifteen minutes, come back, and give it a shot. However, when cold, the starter works like new. Once you get the car started, though, everything is great. Voltmeter goes right up to 13.8, idles smoothly, drives beautifully.
I ran all this by my manager at work (he ran a local speed shop for 26 years). He said that, because this happens occasionally and only when hot, this was definitely the starter solenoid.
So, my question is: should I replace the solenoid, or the whole starter? This starter is two years and 40,000 miles old. Advance has a Worldwide starter for $84.99 + $12 core, but $18.99 for just the solenoid.
Retired
Certified Car Nut
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 17,960
Likes: 1,839
From: Dark Side, AZ
Hmm, 18.99 is alot cheaper than almost 200 for a starter that you may not be able to return. If your cables are fine top and bottom, I'd say yea go ahead and replace it. If you do, let us know how it went please.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: New Milford, CT
Actually, someone owed me a Christmas present. I asked for battery cables. The interior lights are slightly brighter now, and the starter cranks a tad faster, but the larger issue remains.
The Haynes manual says how to change the solenoid. I may try that first, because it'* a cheap part. Expect a how-to on the subject of starter installation. (How'd we miss that one?
)
The Haynes manual says how to change the solenoid. I may try that first, because it'* a cheap part. Expect a how-to on the subject of starter installation. (How'd we miss that one?
)
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Certified GM nut
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,284
Likes: 20
From: New Milford, CT
Is that what the Gearhead symbol means? I've always wondered about that.
Well, the last time I had the starter replaced in a shop (the pre-BF days), it cost me almost $300. Getting the same result for $20-$80 makes me smile a little.
Well, the last time I had the starter replaced in a shop (the pre-BF days), it cost me almost $300. Getting the same result for $20-$80 makes me smile a little.